As the college basketball season looms, one player's journey stands out as a testament to resilience and the pursuit of victory. Shifting our focus from the broader Big Ten landscape, we now delve into the individual stories that will shape the 2025-26 IU basketball roster. Today, we spotlight senior Conor Enright, a player whose path to Bloomington is as intriguing as his on-court contributions.
But here's where it gets intriguing: Enright is one of only two players on the roster with prior experience under Coach Darian DeVries, having played for him at DePaul last season. This reunion, however, wasn't part of the original plan. Let's rewind.
A 6-foot-1 guard from Mundelein, Illinois, Enright initially committed to DeVries at Drake in the 2021 recruiting class. At the time, DeVries was three years into a successful rebuild at Drake, fresh off a 26-5 season and an NCAA tournament appearance. Enright redshirted his freshman year but quickly became a cornerstone of the program in the Missouri Valley Conference.
And this is the part most people miss: While his stats as a redshirt freshman—4.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game—might not leap off the page, Enright's impact has always been about the intangibles. His hustle, competitive spirit, and ability to make winning plays earned him MVC All-Freshman team honors. As DeVries aptly put it, 'He plays like every possession is the last possession of the game.'
In his second season at Drake, Enright's role expanded significantly. Starting all 33 games for a 28-7 team, he averaged 6.9 points, 3.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and a steal in 26.1 minutes per game. Yet, when DeVries moved to West Virginia after the 2023-24 season, Enright chose a different path, transferring to DePaul to be closer to home.
Here's where it gets controversial: Despite battling a shoulder injury that cut his season short after 23 games, Enright still managed to average 6.2 assists per game, ranking 16th nationally in assist rate. His decision to enter the transfer portal again after DeVries took the IU job raises questions: Was it purely about winning, or did his familiarity with DeVries and IU—where his brother attended school—play a larger role? Enright himself admits, 'It was kind of a perfect storm.'
Now fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, Enright is poised to be a linchpin in IU's rotation. His starting role in the team's Puerto Rico exhibition games and his deep understanding of DeVries' system position him as a natural on-court leader. Offensively, he's a skilled facilitator with a career 37.1% three-point shooting accuracy. Defensively, he's a tenacious presence, pressuring opponents and disrupting their rhythm.
But the real question is: Will Enright's selfless, win-at-all-costs mentality translate into a deep NCAA tournament run for IU? He’s made it clear: 'Winning is the biggest thing.' Yet, in a sport where individual stats often steal the spotlight, how will fans and critics alike value his contributions?
One thing is certain: Enright's blue-collar approach and infectious energy will make him a fan favorite in Bloomington. As DeVries recalled from watching him in high school, 'He didn’t score a point, and he dominated the game... I think fans will enjoy him.'
What do you think? Is Enright's style of play undervalued in today's basketball landscape? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
See More: Commentary, 2025-26 Season Preview, Conor Enright
