Indiana University Athletics
Karvala Scores 32 in Win over Virgin Islands
7/23/2026 9:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
LIMA, Peru – Long-range shooting? Check. Dunks to put rims in jeopardy? Check again.
Team USA flexed basketball muscle everywhere you looked during its 120-63 victory over Virgin Islands Thursday night in the FISU (International University Sports Federation) America Games. From freshman Vaughn Karvala (32 points, seven 3-pointers) to transfer veteran Aiden Sherrell (15 points) to former Indiana Hoosier Sam Alexis (15 points) and more, it was a second straight dominating performance to propel Team USA into Saturday's elimination round.
The top two teams in each pool advance.
Virgin Islands had earlier defeated Peru 93-73. That made no difference against a Team USA squad that had beaten Peru 115-36.
For the 6-foot-7, 190-pound Karvala, it was an impressive follow up a strong performance off the bench against Peru.
"Vaughn has done a great job," coach Darian DeVries said. "He's really bought into doing the things we ask. He's got great size, athleticism. He can really run. He's skilled, and you got to see a little bit of all that.
"He was aggressive attacking the glass. He's someone who is going to continue to get better and better because I think there's a lot there for him to continue to grow."
Markus Burton, Darren Harris, Jaeden Mustaf, Sherrell, and Trevor Manhertz started for Team USA. Manhertz replaced Trent Sisley in the starting lineup. Alexis played early and often.
The Virgin Islands jumped ahead 7-4, 11-10 and 14-13 before Team USA took a 15-14 lead then pushed ahead 30-20 after the first quarter. Guard Bryce Lindsay led with nine points. Karvala had eight.
Team USA led 37-22 early in the second quarter, then pushed ahead 42-23 then 69-39 at halftime. Karvala led with 19 points. Sherrell and Alexis each had 10.
Team USA cruised to victory from there, reaching 100 points early in the fourth quarter.
Through it all, DeVries continues to focus on building team chemistry and development in this event as well as prioritize winning. True freshmen Manhertz, Prince-Alexander Moody, and Vaughn Karvala are getting extensive minutes, as are walk-ons such as Ben Winker and Ian Stephens.
"The hardest part when you're doing events like this is we're only allowed to play 12 guys a night," DeVries says, "so there's going to be a couple guys every night who won't be able to participate."
IU has 16 players on its roster, although in its Team USA set up, it's 15. Big men Samet Yigitoglu and Clemens Sokolov are ineligible because they were born outside of the United States. Alexis helps make up for that size loss.
"It can be a little challenging with rotations because you're trying to get everybody some time, trying to give them reps and trying to give them experience," DeVries says.
"At the same time, you're trying, with some of those guys that are potential starters, to give them the opportunity to play together because they're all new to each other, too.
"We want to do a mixture of both -- get the young guys their minutes, but also get some older vets a chance to play with one another in different situations."
Communication is another priority. DeVries says it's improving, with more work needed.
"That's going to be a process that takes a little bit longer. It's getting guys to recognize the importance of communicating, especially at the defensive end.
"Great communicating teams can eliminate mistakes. Even when there is potential for a breakdown, it allows guys to cover for each other, react a little bit better. Guys are starting to understand that it's something that, as this group has gone on over the summer, we saw it as something that maybe we're not great at, and we want to be the elite at it. We'll continue to make that a focus point."
The America Games is for college athletes from North and South America, Central America and the Caribbean involving 15 sports. Basketball teams include Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Virgin Islands, and Chile.
IUHoosiers.com
LIMA, Peru – Long-range shooting? Check. Dunks to put rims in jeopardy? Check again.
Team USA flexed basketball muscle everywhere you looked during its 120-63 victory over Virgin Islands Thursday night in the FISU (International University Sports Federation) America Games. From freshman Vaughn Karvala (32 points, seven 3-pointers) to transfer veteran Aiden Sherrell (15 points) to former Indiana Hoosier Sam Alexis (15 points) and more, it was a second straight dominating performance to propel Team USA into Saturday's elimination round.
The top two teams in each pool advance.
Virgin Islands had earlier defeated Peru 93-73. That made no difference against a Team USA squad that had beaten Peru 115-36.
For the 6-foot-7, 190-pound Karvala, it was an impressive follow up a strong performance off the bench against Peru.
"Vaughn has done a great job," coach Darian DeVries said. "He's really bought into doing the things we ask. He's got great size, athleticism. He can really run. He's skilled, and you got to see a little bit of all that.
"He was aggressive attacking the glass. He's someone who is going to continue to get better and better because I think there's a lot there for him to continue to grow."
Markus Burton, Darren Harris, Jaeden Mustaf, Sherrell, and Trevor Manhertz started for Team USA. Manhertz replaced Trent Sisley in the starting lineup. Alexis played early and often.
The Virgin Islands jumped ahead 7-4, 11-10 and 14-13 before Team USA took a 15-14 lead then pushed ahead 30-20 after the first quarter. Guard Bryce Lindsay led with nine points. Karvala had eight.
Team USA led 37-22 early in the second quarter, then pushed ahead 42-23 then 69-39 at halftime. Karvala led with 19 points. Sherrell and Alexis each had 10.
Team USA cruised to victory from there, reaching 100 points early in the fourth quarter.
Through it all, DeVries continues to focus on building team chemistry and development in this event as well as prioritize winning. True freshmen Manhertz, Prince-Alexander Moody, and Vaughn Karvala are getting extensive minutes, as are walk-ons such as Ben Winker and Ian Stephens.
"The hardest part when you're doing events like this is we're only allowed to play 12 guys a night," DeVries says, "so there's going to be a couple guys every night who won't be able to participate."
IU has 16 players on its roster, although in its Team USA set up, it's 15. Big men Samet Yigitoglu and Clemens Sokolov are ineligible because they were born outside of the United States. Alexis helps make up for that size loss.
"It can be a little challenging with rotations because you're trying to get everybody some time, trying to give them reps and trying to give them experience," DeVries says.
"At the same time, you're trying, with some of those guys that are potential starters, to give them the opportunity to play together because they're all new to each other, too.
"We want to do a mixture of both -- get the young guys their minutes, but also get some older vets a chance to play with one another in different situations."
Communication is another priority. DeVries says it's improving, with more work needed.
"That's going to be a process that takes a little bit longer. It's getting guys to recognize the importance of communicating, especially at the defensive end.
"Great communicating teams can eliminate mistakes. Even when there is potential for a breakdown, it allows guys to cover for each other, react a little bit better. Guys are starting to understand that it's something that, as this group has gone on over the summer, we saw it as something that maybe we're not great at, and we want to be the elite at it. We'll continue to make that a focus point."
The America Games is for college athletes from North and South America, Central America and the Caribbean involving 15 sports. Basketball teams include Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Virgin Islands, and Chile.
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