#program-rebuild

#program-rebuild

Rebranded as Brave Christian, the boys basketball program has surged into relevance behind a roster reshaped by improved talent and elevated by two international players from the Ivory Coast - freshman star JP Oka and sophomore Adama Kone - who have quickly become among the area's most intriguing talents. Driving the vision is coach Joe Fuca, a former executive at DocuSign and basketball architect intent on building more than a winning season.

"It was just an assumption that we were going to go to the national championship," Whitten said in an exclusive interview on the eve of the College Football Playoff title game against No. 10 Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. "That was the goal. And so, it's funny now when people say, 'Oh, aren't you so surprised and shocked that Indiana's in the national championship?' I don't want to be rude, but no. This was the goal."