Indiana Gives Darren Harris Green Light to Shoot
Duke transfer Darren Harris has received the ultimate green light from coach Darian DeVries heading into the 2026-27 season.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Basketball
Indiana coach Darian DeVries has given Duke transfer Darren Harris the green light to take shots this season. Harris is probable to start Indiana's season opener against Eastern Illinois on Monday night.
Why it matters
Harris was limited to 2.8 points per game over two seasons at Duke, which prompted his transfer in pursuit of a larger role. DeVries built his first Indiana team around perimeter shooting and sought more versatility for 2026-27.
Harris averaged 2.8 points per game and shot 36.4% from the field and 30.8% from three across two seasons at Duke, where he logged just 18 combined minutes during the Blue Devils' Elite Eight run. He has made seven three-pointers at the FISU America Games and six more across three October exhibitions, but his production in regular-season Indiana games remains untested.
The players
Darian DeVries
DeVries is the head basketball coach at Indiana University who built his first team around perimeter shooting and is now giving Harris a greater offensive role.
Darren Harris
Harris is a former four-star recruit from St. Paul VI Catholic High School who transferred from Duke to Indiana seeking more playing time and shot opportunities.
The details
Harris entered the transfer portal after the 2025-26 season, citing a desire for a larger role after limited minutes at Duke, where he was a four-star prospect out of St. Paul VI Catholic High School. DeVries outlined his vision for the team during Harris's campus visit and plans to use Harris's shooting skill set.
Timeline
Duke went 70-7 across the 2024-26 seasons, the period during which Harris played for the Blue Devils.
Harris made six three-pointers across three exhibition games in October.
Indiana opens the 2026-27 season against Eastern Illinois on Monday night, with Harris probable to start.
Roadmap
Harris's move mirrors a broader pattern in which elite programs like Duke, which went 70-7 across 2024-26, carry deep rosters that leave some contributors with limited minutes and prompt transfers. Indiana's pursuit of him reflects DeVries's decision to build around perimeter shooting in his first season.
Fans tracking fantasy or betting markets will want to watch how many shots Harris takes against Eastern Illinois on Monday night, given his 30.8% three-point mark at Duke. His playing time and shot volume in the opener will indicate how fully the green light translates into production.
The takeaway
Harris's trajectory shows that a role change can matter as much as talent, and the season opener will show whether his shooting translates when given consistent minutes. Readers should watch his early shot volume and efficiency as the clearest signal of the new arrangement.
What happens next
Harris is probable to start Indiana's season opener against Eastern Illinois on Monday night, the first test of his expanded role.
Further reading
For more on the program's direction, see Basketball coverage out of Bloomington.
