BLOOMINGTON – IU added Ball State transfer forward Payton Sparks on Wednesday morning, marking the Hoosiers’ first incoming player from the transfer portal of this window.

Sparks, who retained some Indiana interest from his foray into the portal last year before electing to stay in Muncie, helps reinforce a frontcourt hit hard by graduation. Both Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson — IU’s leading post scorers and rebounders across the last three years — both called time on their college careers earlier this month.

'I just haven’t stopped smiling': Payton Sparks to IU makes for a full-circle journey

Indiana basketball: 5 things to know about Payton Sparks, a Ball State transfer

A Winchester native, Sparks has been ultra-productive across two seasons at Ball State. He was named Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year last year, and followed that by averaging 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore. On a percentage basis, Sparks was among the best rebounders in his conference, finishing third in MAC play in both offensive and defensive rebounding rate.

He’s listed at 6-9, 240 pounds.

Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana basketball: Payton Sparks transfers in from Ball State