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Report: James Blackmon Jr. to return to Indiana

James Blackmon Jr., Stanford Robinson

Indiana’s James Blackmon Jr. (AP Photo)

AP

James Blackmon Jr. is returning to Indiana for his sophomore season, the player announced in a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

“I felt the best situation for me is to come back next year and play my sophomore year here,” he said.

Blackmon is not projected to be picked in the 2015 or 2016 drafts by Draft Express.

As a freshman with the Hoosiers, Blackmon averaged 15.7 points and shot 38.7 percent from three, thriving in Tom Crean’s spread offense. He’s a talented scorer and a dangerous shooter that took advantage of the style that undersized Indiana was forced to play last season.

Blackmon’s return is key for the Hoosiers, but it’s only part of the equation. Tom Crean will now be waiting on an announcement from Yogi Ferrell, which is scheduled to come down on Saturday night. If Ferrell returns, with the addition of Thomas Bryant in the paint, Indiana is looking at being a top 15-20 team entering the season. Without him, they’re a borderline NCAA tournament.