ESPN REPORT: Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo Establish Multi-Million Dollar Endowment for Indiana Hoosiers Men’s Basketball
In a powerful demonstration of loyalty and legacy, Indiana basketball legends Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo have announced the creation of a multi-million dollar endowment to support the Indiana Hoosiers Men’s Basketball program. The former NBA All-Stars and beloved Hoosier heroes unveiled their transformative gift at Assembly Hall during a special ceremony that brought together alumni, current players, coaches, and fans from across the state.
The endowment, totaling $10 million, will fund scholarships, player development programs, and community outreach initiatives focused on youth in Indiana. The Zeller-Oladipo Legacy Fund, as it will be called, aims to support future generations of Hoosier athletes both on and off the court, while preserving the values of discipline, education, and hard work that defined Zeller and Oladipo’s careers.
Zeller, the 2011 Mr. Basketball Indiana, was a key figure in Indiana’s resurgence under coach Tom Crean. His arrival helped elevate the Hoosiers back to national prominence. Known for his consistency, intelligence, and quiet leadership, Zeller played two seasons with the Hoosiers, leading them to the Sweet Sixteen and an AP #1 ranking in 2013. He later became the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
Victor Oladipo, the dynamic guard with a relentless work ethic and infectious charisma, was Zeller’s teammate and kindred spirit during those pivotal years. His leap from a lightly recruited prospect to a First Team All-American and eventual second overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft became a defining story in modern college basketball. Oladipo would go on to become a two-time NBA All-Star and one of the league’s most respected two-way players.
“This program shaped who we are,” Oladipo said. “We came in as boys and left as men. This is our way of saying thank you—to the coaches, the fans, and the state of Indiana. We want to make sure other kids have that same chance to grow.”
Zeller added, “We believe in Indiana basketball. Not just the banners or the history, but the culture of developing good people. We want this fund to give kids the resources to succeed on and off the court for years to come.”
Current head coach Darian DeVries called the donation “historic,” noting that it was one of the largest gifts ever made by former players in the program’s history. “Cody and Vic set the standard when they played here. Now they’re doing it again in a whole new way,” Darian DeVries
The endowment also includes plans for a “Zeller-Oladipo Youth Leadership Academy,” a summer program hosted in Bloomington that will provide free basketball training, mentoring, and academic support to underprivileged youth across Indiana.
With this bold philanthropic move, Zeller and Oladipo have further etched their names into Hoosier lore—not just as basketball legends, but as community leaders with an unwavering commitment to giving back.
Their legacy now goes beyond the hardwood. It lives in the future of Indiana basketball.
