Indiana signs German 7-footer Felix Kiehlneker

Kiehlneker committed back in September, so this one wasn't a surprise. Now the paperwork is done, and DeVries finally gets to talk about him publicly.

Alec Lasley

@allasley

German center Felix Kiehlneker signs with Indiana: 'Extremely efficient scoring the ball'. #iubb t.co/n5B6vh7pzM

DeVries's statement covered most of the scouting report. He called Kiehlneker another really big player for the future who can work on the perimeter in Indiana's pick-and-roll and dribble-handoff sets, score inside and be a factor on the glass at both ends. That's what a coach says when he wants a big who can space it a little, not just a guy who stands in the dunker spot. DeVries also said Kiehlneker's personality and work ethic will be great fits in the program, which is the line every coach uses on signing day, but fine.

The size is legit. He's listed at 7-foot-1 and 230 pounds, he's from Neu-Ulm, Germany, and he plays in the Ulm program, one of the better development systems in Europe. He's playing in Germany's ProA, the second tier, this season, and through 7 games he's shooting 81.8% from the field. That's a tiny sample, but it backs up the efficiency line. He also played for Germany at the 2026 FIBA U18 EuroBasket. Indiana beat out USC, where he had taken an official visit before committing to the Hoosiers on September 15.

Inside the Hall

@insidethehall

IU basketball announces the signing of class of 2027 center Felix Kiehlneker t.co/J30N9xsHR4 #iubb

He also caps off a class that's actually worth getting excited about. Kiehlneker joins 5-star center Darius Wabbington and 4-star guard Chase Branham, and The Daily Hoosier reports the 3-man group ranks as a national top-10 class. That's 2 bigs out of 3 signees. DeVries is clearly building around size up front.

Colin McMahon

@ColinMcMahon31

All three of #iubb’s 2027 commits have signed their letters of intent. More on the recent signees 👇

Alec Lasley

@allasley

Early Signing Period: What to know about Indiana's 2027 recruiting class -- Key quotes, scouting reports, video and more of IU's three signees. #iubb t.co/jsk9LKAe2v t.co/iHItP9GNk5

Now the realistic part. Kiehlneker is a 3-star international project. He's not the headliner and probably won't play big minutes right away. Wabbington is the name that moves the needle. But a 7-footer who can catch on the short roll, finish efficiently and pass out of a handoff is a nice piece to develop behind him, especially for a staff that wants its bigs doing more than just setting screens.

The thing to watch is the rest of his ProA season in Germany. Holding that efficiency against grown men in the second tier would make him look a lot more like a real rotation big by the time he gets to Bloomington, and a lot less like a lottery ticket.