Purdue Basketball Recruiting: Brandon Newman Commits

A few weeks ago it looked like Purdue was facing an either/or proposition. It was recruiting Cathedral’s Armaan Franklin and Valparaiso’s Brandon Newman. Both played roughly the same position and while taking both was a possibility, getting just one was more likely. It looked for a long time like Franklin (the No. 137 recruit per Rivals) was headed to West Lafayette, but Indiana got him (and rubbed our faces in it a bit).

Well, in the end, Purdue got the higher rated player as Newman committed tonight to coach Painter:

Newman is rated No. 75 in the 2019 class according to Rivals and is a 4-star 6’4” shooting guard. ESPN lists him as a 4-star commit per 247. He was set to play his senior season at Montverde Academy in Florida, but returned home to Valparaiso due to family issues. Last season he averaged 25 points and 9.5 rebounds for Robbie Hummel’s old school.

This is a very good pickup for coach Painter and his third member of the class, joining Isaiah Thompson and Mason Gillis. The class is currently rated 34th nationally by Rivals with Gillis and Newman as 4-star, top 150 players. There is room for one more in the class (Malik Hall?), possibly two if Carsen Edwards goes pro after this season. Malik Hall is likely the top target with Keion Brooks also a possibility. Coach Painter would like a big, but you don’t turn down Brooks and Hall if you get them both somehow.

Hall and Brooks are both top 50 players, with us having a better chance at Hall most likely.

For those interested, Thompson and Newman will face each other December 22nd in a one-day shootout at Indianapolis Manual HS when Zionsville plays Valparaiso. They played last season and Ziosnville won 67-55.