2018 Purdue Basketball Recruiting: Several Purdue Targets Named Junior All-Stars

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:

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.