One of the first players to commit to Indiana out of the transfer portal this season was Jaeden Mustaf, a 6’6” combo guard/wing who has played two years at Georgia Tech. He started 10 games as a freshman, appearing in 26, before becoming a regular in the starting lineup last season.
Despite some sites listing him as a combo guard, he played almost exclusively at the wing and small forward spots, occasionally running the offense as a point guard. He will probably be looking at a similar role at Indiana,
with Bryce Lindsay and Markus Burton penciled in as starters in the backcourt.
Whatever spot on the floor he plays at, he’s much more of a driver than Indiana had at the three and four spots last year. He shot a respectable 38% from deep last year, but it was on just 1.9 attempts per game. That’s a lot less than Nick Dorn (5.3), Lamar Wilkerson (8.6) and Tucker DeVries (7.7), the guys coach Devries had at the wing last year.
Last year at Georgia Tech, he averaged 10.4 points, 2.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per contest. As mentioned, he didn’t use his perimeter shot much, instead utilizing his strong frame and speed to get to the basket.
He’s also a capable passer for somebody likely to be something like a third ball handler on the court. His assist rate last season was 16.6%, another big change from a player like Dorn, whose assist rate was just 2.3%. He also excels at getting to the line on his drive, with a free throw rate of 47.6%.
At 210 pounds, he should be able to spend some minutes at the four spot when Aiden Sherrell needs a breather. If Darren Harris or Prince-Alexander Moody are ready to contribute as guards, playing Mustaf at the four would give Indiana a dangerous smallball lineup, with drivers up and down the lineup.
As just a 72.7% free throw shooter, he could do better at capitalizing on his trips to the line, but his percentage at the stripe also indicates that he may not project well from deep if his volume goes up.
Shooting really isn’t his game though, with him almost always going directly to the rim when the ball gets in his hands. He’ll take a wide open kickout, but it’s clear watching his tape that his first instinct is to get the ball in the painted area for points at the rim, the line, or both.
Having this kind of player on the wing reflects a shift in philosophy for Darian DeVries, who seemed to prioritize shooting on the wing last season. Last year’s team suffered with getting penetration off the dribble though, so this could be seen as an adjustment to address that.
Coming from the ACC, his experience will be valuable. Like many of his new teammates, who came from power conferences, he’s competed against some of the best teams in the country, so his production should translate pretty well to the Big Ten.
Compared to some of Indiana’s other new guards, he’s definitely got the body for Big Ten play and should have no trouble driving and finishing through the physicality he will encounter in conference play. This could be a big asset over the course of the season, as guys get banged up.
