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Purdue does not have a commitment for the 2018 basketball recruiting class yet, but hopefully that will change soon. This is an important class because it will be the one that replaces Isaac Haas, Dakota Mathias, P.J. Thompson, and Vince Edwards. With five newcomers already set to enter next season that means virtually all of Purdue’s roster will turn over by 2018-19 when these guys are freshman. Only Ryan Cline, Carsen Edwards, and Caleb Swanigan could remain (and it is highly unlikely Swanigan stays that long)
Here is your scholarship grid before we get to the junior All-Stars:
Purdue Basketball Scholarship Grid
Player | ('17-'18) | ('18-'19) | ('19-'20) | ('20-'21) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | ('17-'18) | ('18-'19) | ('19-'20) | ('20-'21) |
Vince Edwards | Senior | |||
Dakota Mathias | Senior | |||
Isaac Haas | Senior | |||
P.J. Thompson | Senior | |||
Jacquil Taylor | RS Junior | RS Senior | ||
Ryan Cline | Junior | Senior | ||
Caleb Swanigan | Junior | Senior | ||
Carsen Edwards | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
Eden Ewing | Junior | Senior | ||
Matt Haarms | RS Freshman | RS Soph. | RS Junior | RS Senior |
Aaron Wheeler | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior |
Nojel Eastern | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior |
Sasha Stefanovic | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior |
Scholarships Used | 13 | 9 | 5 | 4 |
Scholarships Left | 0 | 4 | 8 | 9 |
Earlier this week the Indianapolis star announced the junior All-Stars that will play the senior group early this summer. As usual, there is a “Core Six” that will play in both games (June 6 at New Albany and June 8 at Plainfield), as well as a “North Six” (Plainfield only) and “South Six” (New Albany only).
Core Six:
Aaron Henry – 6’6” – Ben Davis
Eric Hunter – 6’3” – Indianapolis Tindley
Damezi Anderson – 6’6” – South Bend Riley
Mekhi Lairy – 5’8” – Evansville Bosse
Romeo Langford – 6’5” – New Albany
Robert Phinisee – 6’ – McCutcheon
This group is rife with Purdue offers, as Matt Painter has already offered Hunter, Phinisee, Anderson, and Langford. Langford is rated as the No. 3 prospect nationally by Rivals and everyone wants him. Hunter is No. 78, Anderson is No. 97, and Phinisee is No. 134. Hunter will play on Saturday in the Class A state title game and I am probably going to try and go see him. I don’t think Purdue has a great chance at Langford, but with the other three Painter has a better than decent shot.
I don’t know a ton on Henry, but he will play for the 4A state title saturday night against Ft. Wayne North.
North Six
Gavin Bizeau – 6’10” – Plainfield
Johnny Bernard – 6’3” – Merrillville
Kevin Easley Jr. – 6’5” – Lawrence North
Walter Ellis – 6’4” – South Bend Adams
Jamal Harris – 6’2” – Indianapolis Crispus Attucks
Caleb Middlesworth – 6’8” – Oak Hill
Easley was recruited by Purdue for a while but recently committed to VCU. He is ranked No. 120 in the 2018 class. Middlesworth is an interesting potential prospect for his size and ability to shoot. (I should clarify that this Oak Hill is the small country school outside of Marion and not the basketball powerhouse in DC). Only IUPUI has officially offered. Harris will also play on Saturday in the Class 3A state title game against Twin Lakes.
South Six
Jarron Coleman – 6’5” – Cathedral
Chance Coyle – 6’3” – Bloomington South
Sean East - 6’ – New Albany
Musa Jallow – 6’5” – Bloomington North
Jalen Moore – 5’9” – Cloverdale
De’Avion Washington – 6’3” – Terre Haute South
Jallow is the only nationally rated player in this group. He is No. 75 according to Rivals. Purdue has offered him, but we would basically be stealing him directly from Indiana’s back yard if he decides to come to West Lafayette. Getting him would be like Phinisee going to Indiana.
I find it very interesting here that this is a crucial class for Purdue with solid in-state prospects and Indiana has its current coaching vacancy. Naturally, they have offered almost all of these top guys too, but their situation is in flux. I could see Painter getting multiple ones here, and if he somehow landed Langford it would make a good class excellent.