2019 Lawrence North and Indiana Elite-Fastbreak shooting guard Jared Hankins committed to Indiana State Wednesday.

Jared Hankins has been an extremely talented prospect since entering high school, but it took until late June for him to receive a scholarship offer. Miami of Ohio was the first to offer Hankins in late June before the likes of Indiana State. St. Bonaventure, SIU-e, and New Orleans extended offers. With many other 2019 prospects making commitments, Hankins decided that he couldn't wait any longer to jump on the offer from the Sycamores.

Hankins is a 6-foot-3 shooter with excellent size, strength, and lateral athleticism for the Missouri Valley Conference. He has proven to be a big-time shooter despite not having textbook form. His mechanics may have played a role in the delayed offers. Indiana Basketball Source saw Hankins and Lawrence North eight times in the 2017-2018 season with Hankins shooting 25-47 from three-point range in those eight games.

With Hankins and Cobie Barnes committed in the 2019 class, Indiana State is in a great spot. The Sycamores can concentrate on getting a playmaker or a bigger forward to round out the class. Jordan Barnes will be a senior when the 2019 class arrives on campus, so that gives Greg Lansing and his staff time to find a replacement for him. But he is the only playmaker on the roster right now.

Hankins will need to develop into a leader for Lawrence North this season. The Wildcats lost Mike Saunders and JP Caroll to transfer over the summer. Those are two lightning-quick point guards that were able to get Hankins open three-point attempts last season. Jack Keefer still has Hankins, DJ Hughes, Tony Perkins, and many other talented players. Hankins will need to bring that talent together for Lawrence North to have a big season.

Hankins and Cobie Barnes will join Bronson Kessinger, Cooper Neese, and De'Avion Washington as Indiana natives on the ISU roster in 2019.