Trent Sisley left Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall impressed after the Indiana-North Carolina game.
The class of 2025 prospect was among the several recruits in attendance for IU’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup with the Tar Heels on November 30. It wasn’t his first game in Bloomington, but he saw a particularly charged environment this time.
“It was really good, to be able to sit behind the bench and see all the behind the scenes, but also the atmosphere was pretty crazy,” Sisley told The Daily Hoosier. “White out, balconies were filled, everything. It was just a good experience.”
Sisley didn’t talk to anyone from the program that he hadn’t already spoken with. He said he chatted with IU head coach Mike Woodson before the game in the locker room and IU’s assistants. He was in Bloomington for IU’s win over Minnesota last season in early January.
At Saturday’s Sneakers for Santa Shootout at Brownsburg High School, his Heritage Hills team lost to Brownsburg in a lopsided game. But Sisley still stood out as one of the best on the floor, dropping 30 points.
Sisley has tried to step up as a leader this season, even though he’s just a sophomore. Throughout that game, even with the score out of hand, he’d direct his younger teammates on the court and talk to them during pauses.
“I’m young, but I played all year last year. I have a lot of experience from last year,” Sisley said. “And they (his teammates) are in kind of the same position as me, playing as freshmen for us. So I’m definitely trying to lead them and help guide them this year.”
He’s listed as a power forward at 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, but he’s able to play more outside as well. Sisley said he prefers to play the wing in AAU, but he knows he’s needed as the 4 or 5 in high school ball.
Sisley’s game has clear potential. He could score in the paint and from outside, he can handle the ball well enough to reliably play the wing, and was active on the glass. He’ll need to continue growing and fill out his frame more, but as a high school sophomore, he has plenty of time.
Sisley is ranked No. 50 in the class of 2025, and No. 2 in the state, by 247Sports. Aside from IU, Sisley has offers from Purdue, Iowa, Ohio State, and Michigan State. Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter was at Brownsburg on Saturday to see Sisley.
He said he’s not anywhere close to committing. He and his family have had conversations as the recruiting process has gone along, but he knows he has plenty of time to let things play out and make up his mind.
Programs have been pitching Sisley on how he’d fit within their systems. He said he’s just looking for a school that will give him an immediate opportunity.
“(I’m looking for) somewhere where you can go and play, cause you see that a lot, guys go places and don’t play,” Sisley said. “Obviously, (I’m looking for) a system that fits me, being able to score and play inside out. Really just that.”
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SISLEY’S PERFORMANCE AT SNEAKERS FOR SANTA
Sisley is wearing No. 40 in the dark uniforms below. He went up against 2024 Purdue commit Kanon Catchings of Brownsburg (No. 14 in white).
Video credit – In the Gym Hoops
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