Spike Albrecht to Transfer to Purdue

Purdue has gained its first transfer for the 2016-17 season, and it is one of the bigger ones. Spike Albrecht, the Michigan PG that missed most of this past season with a hip injury, has agreed to transfer to Purdue as a graduate transfer for his final year of eligibility:

Excited to announce that I'll be playing my 5th year for Purdue University!! #BoilerUp

— Spike Albrecht (@SpikeAlbrecht) May 3, 2016

Albrecht recently visited Purdue and had some other schools on his list, but this news gives Purdue another solid, experienced guard in the backcourt. He will join P.J. Thompson and incoming freshman Carsen Edwards primarily at the point guard spot, but he can also play the two guard with Dakota Mathias and Ryan Cline. At minimum, he can assist int he glaring deficiency that Purdue has in trying to break a press (which was only the biggest problem Purdue had in every loss and ultimate reason for our demise in March).

Albrecht averaged 7.5 points and 3.9 assists in the 2014-15 season for his best year at Michigan. he was limited to only 69 minutes last season at Michigan due to injury, opening the door to his transfer. he is most famously known for playing out of his mind and scoring 17 points in the 2013 National title game as a freshman walk-on, nearly leading the Wolverines to a championship. he brings solid three-point shooting, a calming point guard presence, and excellent free throw shooting to Purdue.

Here is the current scholarship situation, assuming that both Caleb Swanigan and Vince Edwards both return as well.

Purdue may still add another graduate transfer and Virginia Tech transfer Jalen Hudson has announced he will take an official visit to Purdue. Hudson is NOT a graduate transfer, however, and would have to sit out the 2016-17 season with two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2017-18.