The player Curt Cignetti ‘might try and steal’ from Indiana basketball shows promise, versatility
BLOOMINGTON — Open water, Nick Dorn admits, is not really his comfort zone.
It took a little emotional ramping up for the Elon transfer to climb aboard the jet skis Indiana spent free time in Puerto Rico riding around the island coast in August. But by the end of the trip, Dorn had settled on jet skiing as his favorite part of IU’s Puerto Rico experience.
“I’m not really a big water guy,” Dorn said, smiling, “so I had about two life vests on.”
Until recently, that was about the most Dorn could offer his new program. A foot injury requiring surgery sidelined Dorn for much of the summer.
Now, he’s finally building not just to full health but full strength, slowly working his way into Darian DeVries’ practices for the first time. A team already excited by its versatility and scoring pop could get even more dangerous once Dorn reaches his best.
“I don’t think anybody’s more excited to get back to that live play than he is, man,” guard Tayton Conerway said. “He’s been out there shooting. He’s been in the gym. He stays in the gym, even though he probably shouldn’t be there as much as he is. But he stays in the gym.
“He’s ready to get back.”
A key figure last season for the Phoenix, Dorn committed to Indiana in late April, picking the Hoosiers over North Carolina and Maryland, among others.
He arrived still recovering from what was later specified as a Jones fracture in his foot, an injury that required not one but two surgeries to correct. That sat him down for the Hoosiers’ busy summer period.
“They had to actually go back in and redo it,” DeVries told Field of 68 earlier this year.
Dorn traveled to Puerto Rico but could not participate on the floor. Since IU regrouped for its preseason proper, he’s slowly progressed from 5-on-0 work to 2-on-2, each step bringing him closer to full clearance.
“We’re just looking forward to him getting back out there and getting healthy,” DeVries said Tuesday during the team’s media day.
Dorn was among the most intriguing wings in last spring’s portal cycle. He averaged 15.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game last season, shooting 35.1% from 3. Those 3s came at volume — Dorn attempted 194 shots from behind the arc compared to just 72 inside it.
He also made 81% of his free throws.
“What stands out most is just his shooting, and that’s what we prioritize,” DeVries said. “He’s got great length. He has the ability to get it off, great size.”
Once healthy, Dorn could figure into DeVries’ starting lineup.
The Hoosiers ran two point guards — Conerway and Conor Enright — in their first five across all three games in Puerto Rico. But foul trouble exposed both a lack of depth at that spot, and concerns over balance if both Enright and Conerway have to play starters’ minutes.
Jason Drake and Aleksa Ristic could both eventually number among Indiana’s options at the position. But both remain sidelined by injuries of their own. Drake did not make the Puerto Rico trip, while Ristic has recently been seen with a walking boot on his left foot.
Sliding Dorn into his starting five would hand DeVries greater balance in his guard rotation. It would also introduce another versatile, dangerous wing into a group already full of them.
“That’s another guy that can really space the floor, really shoot the ball. Great size and verticality for his position,” forward Tucker DeVries said. “The more times you have guys out there that can shoot and space the floor, it makes everybody else’s job a little easier, with more driving lanes.
“And his versatility on defense will be very helpful as well, being able to guard multiple positions.”
Dorn’s physical and athletic strength both came up in conversations with teammates Tuesday. And Darian DeVries joked that he’s worried football coach Curt Cignetti “might try and steal him from me.”
“He can run. He can move,” Darian DeVries said. “He’s a big, physical guy.”
Those were the qualities teammates could not fully appreciate when Dorn was relegated in the summer months to light shooting drills and additional film study.
They saw him absorbing all he could, asking questions, strengthening his understanding of system and philosophy as much as possible. Now, he’s with them on the court, putting it into practice.
“Spent more time in the film room, learning all the plays, going through every game, making sure I’m crisp when it comes to knowing where I need to be,” Dorn said of his summer. “Just making sure everything is on point off the court, so I’m good on the court when the time is right.”
That time appears close. Indiana will be eager to learn just how much Dorn can add.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Nick Dorn injury, Indiana basketball starter nears return from Jones fracture