Indiana
Quenton Jackson Gets Indiana Pacers Final Two-Way Deal Before Deadline
Washington Wizards guard Quenton Jackson (29) in action during the second half of an NBA basketball … [+]
On Monday, the Indiana Pacers announced that they had signed guard Quenton Jackson to a two-way contract. The 25-year old guard is in his second season in the NBA.
Jackson, who attended Texas A&M and spent three years in the NCAA ranks, had time with the Washington Wizards on a two-way contract last season. He averaged 6.2 points and 1.7 assists per game for the Wizards, and he appeared in nine games.
To be eligible for a two-way contract, a player must have fewer than four years of NBA experience. Because Jackson only has one year of service under his belt, he was eligible for the agreement. Two-way deals are contracts that can be transferred between the NBA and the G League throughout the season, so Jackson will spend time with both the Pacers and their G League affiliate team, the Indiana Mad Ants.
The timing of this deal is related to a deadline. March 4 was the final day that teams were permitted to sign players to a two-way contract, and the Pacers had one such deal available to offer after promoting the contract of young wing Kendall Brown, who was previously on a two-way agreement. Now, the Pacers have a full roster — 15 players are on a standard contract with the team, and three others have two-way deals.
Players on two-way contracts receive half of the rookie minimum for their salary. For a full season, that number would be about $560,000, but Jackson’s deal is prorated to the day he signed his contract.
With Jackson officially signing on March 4, his salary will be roughly $135,000 with the Pacers this season. Players on two-way deals are allowed to appear in 50 games during a full NBA season, and that number is prorated as well. Jackson can be active for 12 of the Pacers final 20 games.
The blue and gold have been all about flexibility and options this season. They kept roster spots open when they needed to and didn’t use their exceptions until late in the campaign. That made it easier to grab Brown on a more favorable deal, and they were able to use the open two-way slot to add Jackson.
“Some of it is trying to keep flexibility with our roster. We wanted to have the ability to maybe look at some other players with our last roster spot,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said of his team’s moves and waivers just after the trade deadline.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 08: Quenton Jackson #29 of Washington Wizards takes a shot over Andrew … [+]
Jackson spent his first day in the Indiana organization practicing with the Mad Ants. “I’m just high-spirited, goofy,” Jackson said, per the team. He thinks his energy will fit in anywhere, including with his new squad.
This season, Jackson has been with the Chicago Bulls organization. He played with the NBA club for preseason action, where he appeared in three games, but he was waived prior to the start of the NBA campaign. He landed with the Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League.
In 38 outings for Windy City, Jackson averaged 16 points and 5.8 assists per game. As a bigger, scoring guard, he can slot in as an off-ball starter for the Mad Ants once he is up to speed. The Pacers’ G League affiliate team will have a quality guard rotation with Isaiah Wong, Elfrid Payton, and Jackson all getting playing time.
Jackson reached 19 points in his most recent NBA outing, and he averaged 11.3 points per game in his final four appearances for Washington. He has proven to be a good scorer at the pro level — he will hope to grow in other ways with the Pacers.
Wong and Oscar Tshiebwe occupy Indiana’s other two two-way deals. The Mad Ants next play on Thursday, so perhaps Jackson makes his debut in the organization on that date. The Pacers, meanwhile, will have to decide when to use his 12 available games in the NBA — if they use them at all.
Indiana
Indiana police increase patrols on 2 interstates for spring break
Indiana State Police will ramp up patrols along major roadways during spring break to “deter dangerous driving behavior,” the agency said in a news release March 22.
The effort is already underway. On March 20 and 21, ISP’s Lafayette District patrolled Interstate 65 and Interstate 70 for aggressive driving as students and families hit the roads for spring break travel.
The results, according to police, were 223 traffic stops, 25 calls for service, five crash investigations, five drug-related charges, three operating-while-intoxicated arrests, two reckless driving arrests, two suspended drivers and one vehicle pursuit.“These targeted patrols are about keeping Hoosiers and those traveling through our state safe,” Lt. Tom McKee, Lafayette district commander, said in a news release. “With increased traffic on our roadways, our troopers were out proactively addressing those violations to reduce crashes and keep our roadways safe.”
ISP did not say how long the increased patrols will continue.Contact breaking politics reporter Marissa Meador at mmeador@indystar.com or find her on X at @marissa_meador.
Indiana
San Antonio vs. Indiana, Final Score: Spurs got serious when they needed to, winning 134-119
The San Antonio Spurs have a habit of playing with their food, but the talent difference between them and their opponents makes up for it on most nights. Eventually, they flexed their muscles and there was nothing the visitors could do.
They overwhelmed the Indiana Pacers with paint pressure, which also opened up the outside game, and everyone who got time was a contributor. Victor Wembanyama was like an angry killer wasp on defense, constantly harassing ball handlers, racking up four of his five blocks in the first half. Everything was going smoothly, but his teammates started allowing too much penetration, and their 21-point lead was reduced to eight. It was just three players doing most of the heavy lifting offensively for the Pacers, and the Spurs spent the rest of the game, denying them from getting within striking distance.
Indiana
NFL draft profile 2026: D’Angelo Ponds (Cornerback, Indiana)
The 2026 NFL Draft is in Pittsburgh! This draft season, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital, and their fit with the Steelers.
The nickel cornerback position is essentially a starter in the modern NFL, and not many 2026 draft prospects have more hype there than D’Angelo Ponds. Could he be in play for the Steelers?
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The basics on D’Angelo Ponds
Defensive stats via Sports Reference
D’Angelo Ponds scouting report
I’m not sure if there’s a prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft more universally loved than Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds. And if you watched him this season, you’d understand why. Ponds is the embodiment of the “got that dog in me” memes with the pit bull photo-shopped over a chest X-ray. He’s an undersized defender at 5’9, 182 pounds, sure, but he plays so much bigger and was one of the best cornerbacks in the country on a National Championship team that had to play a lot of good offenses to get that far.
The biggest constant in the games I watched of Ponds is that he makes plays. He finished 2025 with 61 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, and 11 passes defensed. He’s a high-effort player who can defend both the run and pass. That leads to production in every aspect of the game.
Ponds is more than just an undersized fan favorite, as well. While he didn’t test much at the NFL Combine, his vertical jump was elite and he looked plenty fluid in the individual drills. He’s an NFL athlete.
Ponds is a lot of fun to watch in coverage. He’s generally smooth in his transitions, with urgent, choppy footwork that helps him stay in the receiver’s pocket throughout the play. His sub-30” arms are a bit of a concern on paper, but you wouldn’t guess it from his play — Ponds does a great job contesting catches and uses his arms well to make a play on the ball.
Ponds also possesses good instincts in zone coverage, especially near the line of scrimmage. When he sniffs out a route he drives on it quickly to make a play.
Ponds has a bit of a folk hero reputation on NFL Draft Twitter — well deserved, in my opinion — but we do have to be realistic about his projection in the pros. Ponds plays big, but was still brought back down to earth against Madden-create-a-player Jeremiah Smith in their matchup.
You’ll also see him give up contested catches to big pass-catchers at times. Ultimately, while I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ponds hold up OK on the boundary in the NFL, his skill set definitely translates best to the slot where he won’t be matched up against X receivers as often and can play to his strengths coming downhill.
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Because again, even though Ponds is not a large corner, he’s a great tackler for his position, hitting with impact and consistently wrapping up.
Ponds projects as a plus starter in the nickel in the NFL thanks to his coverage ability and tackling mindset.
Strengths
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Choppy, active feet; mirrors effectively and relentlessly
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Plays much larger than his listed size
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Ferocious at the catch point; disrupts receivers with his arms
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Effective, high-effort tackler
Weaknesses
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Will likely be limited to the slot in the NFL
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Lack of size can be an issue against big X receivers; bullied by Jeremiah Smith
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Aggressive playing style occasionally backfires
What others are saying about D’Angelo Ponds
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Ponds is a productive perimeter cornerback trapped in a smaller body, but he’s not lacking in confidence or coverage tenacity. He’s tremendously competitive and winning seems to follow him at each stop. He matches press releases with good slide quickness and has the speed to stay in-phase as routes travel vertically. Eye discipline, instincts and trigger quickness fuel his zone work and catch disruption. Size limitations will likely push him to nickelback, where mismatches against bigger bodies and physical challenges from run games will test his playmaking/durability. Ponds is a likely Day 2 pick who will be an above-average starting nickelback in the NFL.
Daniel Harms, Bleacher Report
Ponds plays with fantastic zone awareness in any variation thanks to his quick feet and track background. His instincts are tied to strong eye discipline and make him a formidable opponent when reading the quarterback. … Doesn’t panic with the ball in the air and plays with the mindset of a bigger corner when working downfield. He attacks the catchpoint with authority and timing to disrupt catches. .. When dealing with comeback routes or hitches at full speed, he displays a slight hitch within his deceleration. This slight pause allows receivers to sell deep and break him off at the top of routes. … PRO COMPARISON: Marcus Jones
Jay Robins, Stampede Blue
The simple fact is, Ponds’ tape is sensational. Had he grown roughly 3 inches taller and had his arm length and weight grow proportionally, his tape would warrant not just Round 1 discussion, but created a Top Corner in the Class debate with LSU’s Mansoor Delane. Even without that extra growth spurt, Ponds has maximized every athletic gift he’s been given and plays with a fiery intensity that shines bright. As one of the chairmen of the Upton Stout = Stud committee leading up to last years’ draft, I can’t help but love the tape and trust in the player’s clear passion to work itself out; measuring tape be damned.
D’Angelo Ponds’ fit with the Steelers
If the Steelers plan to move Jalen Ramsey to safety in the future, drafting Ponds in the second round would shore up the Pittsburgh secondary with a quality slot corner. He could also see some success on the outside in more of a cloud corner role.
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Of course, the Steelers could see Ramsey as the answer in the slot for the time being (where I think he fits best), making a Ponds pick somewhat redundant. Either way, the Indiana product is sure to be an instant fan favorite wherever he lands.
TL;DR: Ponds is a feisty, undersized cornerback who excels as a tackler and in coverage. He’s a playmaker in every phase of the game who will likely move to the slot in the NFL, but Ponds’ athleticism and high-effort playing style should make him an instant contributor.
What are your thoughts on Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
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