Indiana junior forward Payton Sparks will enter the transfer portal, a source confirmed to IndyStar..

Sparks, who arrived via transfer from Ball State last offseason, struggled to find consistent playing time as a Hoosier. He averaged 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds a game and played more than 10 minutes just five times this season.

He played a season-high 29 minutes in the Jan. 19 loss at Wisconsin, starting in place of an injured Kel'el Ware, fouling out with seven points and two rebounds.

A Winchester native, Sparks was ultra-productive across two seasons at Ball State. He was named Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year in 2022, 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 the MAC, finishing third in both offensive and defensive rebounding rate.

That production never materialized in Bloomington playing behind established post players Ware and Malik Reneau.

Sophomore forward Kaleb Banks also entered the portal. That gives IU five open scholarships for the 2024-25 season, not including a potential NBA draft departure of Kel'el Ware.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana basketball forward Payton Sparks enters transfer portal