Luke Goode Withdraws from NBA Draft, Set to Return to Indiana Hoosiers for 2025-26 Season
BLOOMINGTON, IN — In a move that sent shockwaves through college basketball and ignited a firestorm of excitement in Bloomington, Indiana, Hoosiers star forward Luke Goode announced on Tuesday evening that he is officially withdrawing from the 2025 NBA Draft and will return to Indiana for his final season.
The announcement came during a surprise appearance at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, where Goode stepped onto the court to a standing ovation from thousands of stunned fans. The atmosphere was electric—part rock concert, part revival—as the 6-foot-7 sharpshooter stood center stage under a single spotlight and declared, “I’m not done here. I’m coming back to finish what we started.”
The decision marks a pivotal moment for Indiana Basketball, which is entering its second season under new head coach Darian DeVries. DeVries, who took over the storied program last year following a string of lackluster seasons, has promised to rebuild the Hoosiers into a national powerhouse. Goode’s return is a seismic boost to those ambitions.
“Luke is the heart of this team,” DeVries said in a press conference moments after the announcement. “He’s a leader, a winner, and a competitor. We had long talks about his future, and while he had serious interest from NBA teams, he told me he wasn’t ready to leave this chapter unfinished. I’ve promised him we’ll make this season unforgettable.”
Goode, a transfer from Illinois who found new life in Indiana’s fast-paced system, averaged 15.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and shot 42% from beyond the arc last season. His versatile scoring, high basketball IQ, and fierce competitiveness made him a fan favorite and a projected second-round pick in this year’s draft. But according to sources close to the program, Goode felt there was “unfinished business”—particularly after the Hoosiers were bounced in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last March.
“This place means more to me than just basketball,” Goode said in an emotional follow-up video posted to his social media accounts. “We’ve got a team that can win the Big Ten, that can make a deep run in March. I believe in Coach DeVries, I believe in my teammates, and I believe in Hoosier Nation.”
The announcement has already sent Indiana’s fanbase into a frenzy. Ticket sales spiked within minutes, and #GoodeReturns trended nationwide on X (formerly Twitter). Analysts immediately shifted Indiana into their preseason top 15 projections, with some calling the Hoosiers “a Final Four dark horse.”
With Goode back in the fold, the 2025-26 Indiana Hoosiers will boast a potent mix of experience and young talent, including returning starters, a top-10 recruiting class, and key transfers. And with DeVries at the helm and Goode as his battle-tested floor general, the march toward banner No. 6 just got a whole lot louder.
In Bloomington, the message is clear: the Hoosiers are back—and Luke Goode is leding the charge.
