New Palestine's Ian Stephens turns down other options to be walk-on for Indiana basketball

Ian Stephens was about to announce his commitment to the IU-South Bend coaching staff in late March when he got word that a different route in college was a possibility.

The idea, though, was a little jolting for the lifelong Purdue fan.

“I got a call from (Indiana basketball recruiting coordinator Jordan Hulls) that, 'This is a possibility we want to make you aware of,' since I was thinking about committing soon,” Stephens said. “But he couldn’t tell me anything for sure at that point.”

There were other dominoes that needed to fall but eventually led Stephens, the 6-5 New Palestine senior, to announce Wednesday his plans to join Indiana as a preferred walk-on.

Those Purdue posters that cover his bedroom wall will need to come down.

“It’s kind of crazy because we’ve always been Purdue people,” he said.

Stephens was one of the area’s top players as a senior, averaging 15.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game for New Pal, which went 23-3 and won a sectional title last season. Known as a bit of a late bloomer, Stephens shot 59% from the field and 40% from the 3-point line (17-for-42) as a senior.

Stephens played for the JH1 Elite travel program started by Hulls but did not have much a personal relationship to the 2009 IndyStar Mr. Basketball from Bloomington South. Hulls was still playing professionally in Germany until he was hired by Indiana coach Mike Woodson last May.

“Jordy was great throughout it all,” Stephens said. “We didn’t have much of a connection through AAU because he was still playing in Europe until he took the job last summer. It’s funny to go back and look because after that we had to play our last few tournaments with different jerseys (per NCAA rules because Hulls’ name was on jerseys). He’s a super nice guy, though, and has done a lot for me, obviously.”

Stephens said the idea of walking on and paying to go to school instead of playing at a school giving him a scholarship was an idea he had to wrap his mind around. Stephens spoke with former Zionsville standout Nathan Childress, who spent four seasons at Indiana as a preferred walk-on before announcing he would play his final season at Indiana Wesleyan.

“It didn’t make my decision but it was super helpful,” Stephens said of his talk with Childress. “I really just had questions about what his experience was like. It wasn’t a really long conversation but he was helpful.”

Stephens said he understands he is likely giving up a chance to play a larger role at a smaller school. But there are opportunities in basketball and outside of sports that he is looking forward to pursuing.

“The way I look at things, if I’m having a good time and I’m helping the team get better, getting stronger and being part of a winning team, I’ll be happy doing what I’m doing,” Stephens said. “I don’t have a problem giving up playing time. Of course, it’s easy to say that now. You don’t know until you do it. But I’m still going to be in the gym and practicing with the guys and doing things to get me better. I don’t expect anything going in there except to help the team get better and win. That is fulfilling to me, if I play or not.”

Stephens is also planning to pursue a career in law, which also factored into his decision.

“That was another big thing in my decision,” Stephens said. “There will be more opportunities for me in the future to do what I hope to do.”

Stephens said he will attend orientation next week and likely start workouts in June in Bloomington. Incoming walk-ons are not always part of summer workouts, but Stephens would rather get started early.

“My best way to get into shape and get stronger is to get there in June,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IU basketball: New Palestine's Ian Stephens will be preferred walk-on