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The early signing period for the class of 2016 in basketball is in November, but Purdue doesn't have to worry about that. Right now, we have no one with even so much as a verbal commitment. With three open spots due to Johnny Hill, A.J. Hammons, and Rapheal Davis leaving the Boilers are slightly behind, and a number of names like Joey Brunk and Barrett Benson are off the board.
So who is left? It appears that point guard is a priority for the 274th class in a row. Getting another big to come in for Hammons would be nice as well. According to GBI Purdue has officially offered 15 players, six of which have already committed elsewhere.
Point Guard
Xavier Simpson - 4 Star - Lima, OH - It appears as if the Boilers are going all-in on Simpson, as he is the lone PG on the radar right now. Purdue technically has two PGs on the roster in P.J. Thompson and Grant Weatherford who will be around in 2016-17, but Simpson rates higher. Here is his mix tape:
Simpson is a top 100 player and would be a great pickup, especially if he has a couple of older players to learn under. Purdue is in the running with the likes of Xavier, Iowa, Iowa State, and Illinois. He has set a date for an official visit to Purdue as well.
Shooting Guard
Bruce Brown - 4 Star - Saxtons River, VT - Vermont produces quality basketball players? Who knew? He is rated 56th nationally according to ESPN and is an intriguing 6'4" shooting guard. Getting someone like him would be good. We need a Red Button type of guard within the offense. He has a ton of offers, however.
Jarron Cumberland - 4 Star - Wilmington, OH - Cumberland committed to Cincinnati.
Eron Gordon - 4 Star - Indianapolis, IN - Purdue has been there from the beginning for Gordon, who has had a roller coaster HS career. He transferred to Cathedral and had to sit most of last season as he battled the IHSAA and their transfer rules. He recently said he was going to give LSU a look. All four big IN-state programs have offered, but Purdue did not make his top five, so we're out.
Kyle Guy - 4 Star - Indianapolis, IN - Guy has long been committed to Virginia.
Kameron McGusty - 4 Star - Katy, TX - McGusty is rated as No. 36 nationally by Rivals and 40th according to ESPN as a 6'5" guard. Even though Purdue has offered, bigger fish are coming around with Louisville being the most recent. With a competent coach now at Texas he might even stay in state.
Zach Norvell - 4 Star - Chicago, IL - Norvell is just the latest star player from Simeon High in Chicago, and Purdue looks to be in on him early. He is a 6'4" shooting guard is in the high 80s/low 90s nationally as a top 100 player. The kid is definitely a shooter, too.
Eli Wright - 3 Star - Owensboro, KY - Wright is a 6'4" guard that Indiana, Tennessee, Clemson, and Mississippi State are after. He is just outside the top 100 according to most recruiting services, so he is a solid player. He might be a player to watch, too.
Power Forward
Tyler Cook - 4 Star - St. Louis, MO - With Caleb Swanigan and Jacquil Taylor both being freshmen next season it would appear the Boilers are set at power forward, but we have still offered this 6'8" kid from St. Louis. He is rated No. 76 nationally by Rivals and 58th by ESPN. Just about everyone has offered, and Rock M Nation has a good profile on him.
Nick Rakocevic - 4 Star - Westchester, IL - This is another player Purdue has been after for a while. The 6'9" player from Illinois is a beanpole that definitely needs some weight. Indiana, Miami, Virginia, and Wisconsin are after him. Wisconsin probably offered to fill their quota of tall white guys with Slavic/Polish names. The kid has range, too:
Nick Ward - 4 Star - Gahanna, OH - Ward is committed to Michigan State.
Rapolas Ivanauskas - 4 Star - Barrington, IL - Ivanauskas is committed to Northwestern.
Centers
Barret Benson - 4 Star - Willowbrook, IL - Benson recently committed to Northwestern. Yes, Northwestern basketball has TWO 4-star commitments.
Joey Brunk - 4 Star - Indianapolis, IN - I thought we had a shot with Brunk, but Butler got him.
Schnider Heard - 4 Star - Plano, TX - heard could be interesting given the way we have put bigs into the NBA. He is listed as 41st nationally according to Rivals and has offers from pretty much everyone of consequence. 247 lists him as a Kansas lean, however.