A previous Ohio Mr. Basketball, who now plays as the point guard for Indiana, has provided a unique learning opportunity for a father and son this winter.
“It’s been an intriguing experience,” remarked Brook Cupps, the coach at Centerville High School, whose son, Gabe, is a freshman player at Indiana. “It’s been really rewarding to witness him fulfill his lifelong dream.”
As expected, father and son have spent numerous hours together in basketball gyms over the years, often sitting close to each other.
As usual, Brook has attended all of his son’s games this season, but his perspective has changed compared to previous years. Instead of coaching from the sideline while Gabe runs the offense, the experienced coach now sits a row or two back in the stands, observing his son play for Indiana under the leadership of Mike Woodson, a former NBA coach and renowned Hoosiers player under Bob Knight.
“It’s definitely a different role for me and a new dynamic for us that we’re navigating, but it’s been enjoyable,” Brook remarked on Tuesday night before Indiana’s game against Ohio State.
With Woodson welcoming back sixth-year senior Xavier Johnson this season, Gabe Cupps was expected to come off the bench in a supporting role throughout the year.
However, the experienced point guard has already sat out a total of nine games due to injury in two separate periods, and Woodson would only confirm that he is “out indefinitely” after the Hoosiers rallied to defeat the Buckeyes 76-73.
This meant that in his first return to his home state as a college basketball player, Cupps was part of the starting lineup, but his impact on the game was minimal.
Dealing with foul trouble for much of the game, he ultimately scored two points, dished out two assists, and was credited with one rebound and one steal in 26 turnover-free minutes.
“I believe he was a bit further along than they initially anticipated when he enrolled last summer, and then he was thrust into the spotlight when Xavier got injured, so he’s still trying to navigate it all,” remarked Brook Cupps before the game. “He’s attempting to learn how to manage the offense at this level while also aiming to be assertive in scoring without forcing shots. It’s all part of the adjustments required for a point guard, which is different from simply playing.”
The younger Cupps has been averaging 22 minutes per game across 23 games, with 12 of those as starts. He has recorded 32 assists, 22 turnovers, and 16 steals, while maintaining a scoring average of 2.7 points per game. His shooting percentages stand at 39% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc.
He has reached double figures in scoring in just one game, contributing 11 points against Auburn on December 9th. Cupps attracted attention on January 30th when his crucial 3-pointer with 1:26 remaining helped propel the Hoosiers to a 74-68 victory over Iowa.
“Gabe is delivering exactly what I expected from him,” Woodson stated on the Hoosiers’ team website. “He was coached by his father, who did an exceptional job with him. He’s been consistent because he’s been taught the right fundamentals. Some players grasp it, and some don’t. Gabe got it. That’s why he fits right in.”
Adjusting to the physicality of the Big Ten conference will take time, but his father believes Gabe’s game is well-suited for this level, albeit with room for growth.
“It’s going to be a process,” Cupps remarked. “I think he’ll need to become more assertive. Right now, he’s focused on facilitating and orchestrating the offense, which is the primary expectation. But as his career progresses, there have been instances where they’ve asked him to be more aggressive, and he’ll need to navigate that.”
During the Elks’ Division I state championship victory in 2021, Gabe averaged 15.2 points and 4.9 assists. In his junior year, he saw a slight decrease in scoring but increased his assists, shooting an impressive 50% from the field and 44% from 3-point range, earning him the title of Mr. Ohio Basketball in 2022. As a senior, he maintained strong numbers, averaging 15.4 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 49.5% from the field and 39.5% from beyond the arc.
“In high school, he had a good understanding of when to facilitate and when to score,” Brook noted. “He’ll need to find that balance at this level. I believe he’ll improve in that aspect.”
Brook mentioned that he hasn’t missed any of his son’s games since late elementary school, though this streak might be challenged depending on the timing of the Elks’ tournament games later this month.
Regardless, both father and son will continue to learn and grow.
“I think just being here is a blessing,” Gabe expressed to reporters in Bloomington after his pivotal shot against Iowa. “So, I’m here to work, here to improve. That allows me to trust myself and my teammates to trust me. I’m just really grateful for the opportunity and thankful for these guys.”
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