Donnie Hale To Transfer

Purdue announced today that redshirt sophomore Donnie Hale will be transferring out of the program. Other than the timing, the announcement isn't too surprising to most. The timing is surprising not because it interrupted my viewing of a DVR'ed episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which is even worse than you thought it'd be, but because today is actually the first day teams can practice this season.

Hale went to prep school out of high school, waiting for a scholarship to open up at Purdue. He then redshirted a season before finally becoming a 21-year-old freshman last season. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 14.5 minutes over 32 games, including eight starts, and averaged 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in that season.

This season, however, it appeared his playing time would be cut with Jay Simpson coming off a redshirt season and the addition of fifth-year senior Errick Peck. Peck has the advantage of experience, while Simpson is reportedly in the best shape of his career and has looked very impressive in workouts.

It is being reported Hale will transfer down a level so he can play immediately without sitting out, though I'm not sure if he would have to wait until the end of the semester for that to happen or not.

Hale is the fourth Boilermaker to leave the squad since the end of the 2012-13 season, joining Anthony Johnson, Jacob Lawson and Sandi Marcius.