Indiana
Indiana turns to transfer portal again, lands Cal QB, Maryland RB
A notable transfer class helped Indiana win 11 games for the first time in school history and make a surprise appearance in the college football playoff this season.
It appears coach Curt Cignetti is attempting to recreate that magic in 2025, landing a pair of notable offensive weapons through the portal ahead of Christmas.
On Monday, the Hoosiers landed Maryland running back Roman Hemby, who rushed for 607 yards and six touchdowns this year and has 2,347 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground in his career.
He has led the Terps in rushing in each of the last three seasons while earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors twice and being named a Freshman All-American.
Henby will compete with senior Kaelon Black and UAB transfer Lee Beebe Jr. for snaps in the spring.
The Hoosiers got more good news on Tuesday, landing Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza via the transfer portal, 247 Sports reported.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound signal-caller has made 19 starts with the Golden Bears over the last two seasons, completing 66 percent of his passes for 4,712 yards with 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
He has also rushed for 197 yards and four touchdowns during his time in Berkeley.
He is the older brother of IU true freshman quarterback Alberto Mendoza. His arrival in Bloomington is huge for the team that needs to replace Kurtis Rourke.
Georgia, Missouri, and UCLA were the other schools that were aggressively pursuing Mendoza, according to 247 Sports.
Mendoza will be the favorite to start at QB next season after top backup Tayven Jackson entered the transfer portal this week.
Indiana lost to Notre Dame in the first round of the first 12-team playoff on Dec. 20. The Hoosiers open the 2025 season against Old Dominion on Aug. 30.
Indiana
‘Foul play’ suspected in death investigation on Indiana-Ohio state line, Wayne County officials say
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating the death of a person who died in the emergency department of Reid Health in Richmond.
Wayne County Coroner Brent Meadows was notified of the death Wednesday evening, according to a media release. Evidence has reportedly indicated that foul play is involved.
Officials believe the incident may have occurred in the area of the Petro Travel Center in New Paris, Ohio, just across the Indiana-Ohio state line.
The coroner’s office said the deceased person has been transported to the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, for a forensic autopsy and identification.
The office is still working the locate and identify the victim’s family.
This remains an active investigation.
News 8’s Michaela Springer contributed to this report.
Braden Smith spent four seasons with Purdue basketball proving all the power conference programs who overlooked him missed out.
Now the former Boilermaker point guard has a chance to do the same in the NBA.
Smith, a Westfield native, is headed to the Pacers after Indiana traded for him when the Chicago Bulls selected him with the 38th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a source confirmed to IndyStar.
Smith is Purdue’s third draft pick in five years, joining lottery picks Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey among a group of now 11 NBA draft selections to play at Purdue under Matt Painter.
Here’s a look at Smith’s Purdue career and what he brings to the Pacers.
Before capping a career that includes two Big Ten regular season and two Big Ten Tournament championships, along with helping Purdue end a 44-year Final Four drought, Smith broke former Duke guard Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA assists record.
Along the way, Smith took home the 2025 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard in a season where he also was the Big Ten Player of the Year. A two-time consensus first-team All-American, Smith finished his Purdue career eighth in career points (1,932), third in steals (249) and has the top three assist seasons in school history that helped add to his NCAA record total of 1,103.
Smith’s knock is his 5-foot-10 1/2 height measurement, but that didn’t deter him from being one of college basketball’s top players.
What Smith lacked in height, he made up for in basketball IQ. He’s lethal with a midrange jump shot and showcased an unblockable fadeaway that allowed him to shoot over lengthier defenders. He mastered manipulating defenses while playing with marquee big men the last four seasons.
His role in the NBA likely will be not require him to be the team’s primary playmaker immediately. Smith’s awareness of that fact pushed a more defensive-minded approach in preparation for the next level. At the NBA Draft Combine in May, Smith showed he’s capable of defending elite guards.
Smith is an elite competitor who never showed to shy away from the dirty work, which is something that can help him earn NBA minutes as a rookie while trying to find his footing in an unfamiliar backup role.
Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar’s Boilermakers newsletter.
The body of a 13-year-old boy was recovered from Lake Michigan during a multiple-day search near a beach in Michigan City, Indiana.
Officials did not provide further details.
A search has been underway since Monday night after witnesses reported seeing a child wearing red shorts enter the water.
Michigan City police said officers responded to a possible drowning just before 5:40 p.m. on Monday near Washington Park Beach.
Police said the child disappeared underwater just south of the lighthouse and did not resurface.
A search was initiated with dive efforts, a fishing boat, drone technology, and a medical helicopter deployed.
The Michigan City Fire Department said three divers suffered minor injuries during the search and are being treated at Franciscan Health. Fire officials said divers encountered “challenging water conditions” before the search was suspended.
Officials have not identified the body recovered.
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