Purdue Basketball Recruiting: Spring Evaluation Is Here

The 2018 Recruiting Class is inked. A class size of three with two being in the top 150.

But now, Coach Painter and Co. get back on the road for the Spring Evaluation periods. An off-season for the college basketball coaches, but the start of the AAU Season for the athletes that are being recruited.

Coach Painter has cast a wide net, he recruits the entire country now. The 2018 Class has a big man from Miami, Florida, another big from Detroit and a combo guard from Indy. Of course, recruiting the state is always vital, but Coach Painter has shown in recent classes he is not afraid to dive deep into players from other states. So, who is next?

Isaiah Thompson - 6’1”, Combo Guard, Zionsville, Indiana, 3* (247 Sports)

Isaiah committed to Purdue during the season. The explosive combo guard ledhis team to a phenomenal season. He scored 23 points per game. Sadly, he has a broken bone in his foot and will probably be out for spring evaluations. Lucky for him, he already is solid for Purdue.

Francis Okoro - 6’9”, PF/C, Normal, Illinois, 4* (247 Sports), 34 Nationally

There have been rumors that if test scores come back at where he needs them to be, he may reclassify to 2018 and be a late spring early summer commit. If not, he will main a high priority target for Coach Painter, he is a beast in the paint.

Malik Hall - 6’7”, Wing, Wichita, Kansas, 4* (247 Sports), 54 Nationally

Malik has been to campus a few times already. He is at the Sunrise Academy Prep School, the same school that Matt Haarms went too. He is being recruited by everyone in the nation, but we have been there in his ear since day one - which carries a lot of weight. I think it will be hard to beat Kansas, but we will see.

Armaan Franklin - 6’4”, Combo Guard, Indianapolis, Indiana, 4* (247 Sports) 89th Nationally

Armaan exploded onto the scene this past season. He was dominant at Cathedral High School. He has really good size for the two guard spot and can handle the ball a bit as well. He plays both ends, being a defensive stopper and being a shooter. Armaan will get more and more looks through the summer, but this is a kid we have a great shot to get.

Mason Gillis - 6’7”, Wing, New Castle, Indiana, 4* (247 Sports), 134th Nationally

I think he may be our top priority. He could play the 3 or the 4 for us. He is versatile as anyone in the nation and continues to get better. He was an absolute star during the high school season. Coach Painter has been over to visit him a handful of times already as well. This past season he averaged right around 22 points per game.

Isaiah Stewart - 6’9”, Center, LaPorte, Indiana, 5* (247 Sports), 25th Nationally

Everyone in the entire country wants Stewart. He is dominant with his back to the basket, but he is also good from mid range. He is very athletic, a little undersized for our type of centers, but he is good enough where that won’t matter. He will be very hard to get.

Drew Timme - 6’10”, PF/C, Richardson, Texas, 4* (247 Sports), 108th Nationally

We have been involved with Timme since last spring. He is a versatile 4 or 5. He can stretch the floor, but he also does a great job of rebounding underneath the basket. Timme would be a great addition to the roster for 2019.

Keion Brooks - 6’8”, Wing, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 5* (247 Sports), 22nd Nationally

Keion is a freak athlete. He can also shoot the rock. He is being recruited nationwide. The rumor is that MSU may have the inside track in him, but Coach Painter has been recruitin him for around two years and we were one of his first offers. He would look great in the old gold and black.

Trayce Jackson-Davis - 6’9”, PF/Center, Greenwood, Indiana, 4* (247 Sports), 30th Nationally

Rumor is that Trayce wants to stay in state. It appears that IU may have the first crack at him here, but Purdue develops big men much better than IU. He recently said in an interview he likes how Purdue develops big guys. He is a freak athlete, for a big man, he can take his guy off the dribble.

As you can see, our priorities first are mostly in state. In my opinion, these guys are all of the top options that Coach Painter is wanting. After the spring evaluation period, that wide net will be cast out again.

It takes time to find some diamonds in the rough, CMP has shown over and over again that he is capable of doing that. I am excited to see who will be the next Boilermaker.