Texas native Ian Inman joins young but talented Colorado guard room

Ian Inman saw action in the Colorado team scrimmage on Saturday. (Photo by Remi Krupinski/Sko Buffs Sports)

In September of 2024, three-star high school recruit (247Sports) Ian Inman committed to the Colorado Buffaloes. The Texas native joined a guard room that has five freshmen and six total newcomers. 

Inman played for College Park High School in the Houston area. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists, and shot just under 50 percent from the field as a senior. Inman helped lead his team to a 29-10 record and to the 2025 UIL Texas Class 6A D2 state semifinals.

He was nominated as a top-25 finalist for the 2025 Guy V. Lewis Award, given to the greater Houston area boys basketball player of the year. 

The tall guard joins the new-look Buffaloes guard room, consisting of just one player, Felix Kossaras, who has played minutes for Colorado. Despite the notable losses of guards Javon Ruffin and RJ Smith from last season, Inman is confident his group will fill those shoes. 

“We’re deep on the guard level,” Inman said. “We all do different things great. So I feel like our versatility is great. If one’s not having a good game, you can put in another one and pick up the slack.”

Since arriving in Boulder, Inman has created relationships with his new teammates, including one with his roommate, Josiah Sanders. 

“We’re always together,” Inman said. “We go to church together on Sundays.”

The Texas native mentioned older guys like Sebastian Rancik, Bangot Dak and Elijah Malone as mentors for the younger generation. 

“They know what to expect,” Inman said. “They’re super helpful for us freshmen, because we are new to this and they help us a lot.”

With so many newcomers, including seven freshmen, head coach Tad Boyle emphasized the importance of the Australia trip. 

“That’s why this summer was so important,” Boyle said. “Because our guys really learned a lot about themselves and what it takes to be a part of a physical basketball game. Without that, I’d hate to think about where we would be with the youth experience that we have.”

Inman came off the bench for Colorado in its four exhibition games Down Under. In his best game of the trip, against Gold Coast, Inman scored 10 points and co-led the team in rebounds with seven. 

Against Australia’s National team, the Boomers, Inman played just over 16 minutes, scored four points on five attempted shots and collected the second most rebounds on the team (five). 

Inman already understands the philosophy of this Buffs team and has bought in. 

“Coach always emphasizes doing the little things,” Inman said. “If you rebound the ball, you’re gonna be able to play. Just rebounding and trying to attack the glass and get extra possessions and then also get extra points.” 

Aside from basketball, the trip to Australia gave the team a chance to connect. 

“Off the court, it was super fun,” Inman said. “Just jet skiing, bonding with the team and being in the ocean.”

With the start of the regular season just three weeks away, Boyle and his staff are still figuring out who the starters will be. Inman’s not focused on that. 

“Looking for the team to win,” Inman said. “ You always have personal goals, but if the team’s winning, you feel good, and then you get in on the court, and you play good.” 

Boyle has high praise for Inman and believes he can be an asset for this young squad. 

“Wonderful young man, really coachable,” Boyle said. “ I think he’s a guy that’s really learning on the defensive end… He’s a guy you want to get shots for, and his teammates have to understand what he can do for us.”