'23 Luke McEldon talks about Virginia Tech offer and Purdue is calling

At a time when big men are at a premium in college basketball, Luke McEldon is one of the more intriguing ones in the northeast. The 6-foot-10 2023 center at Ashburnham (MA) Cushing Academy has soft hands and touch around the basket. Most importantly, the Virginia native improves each time he steps on the floor.

“I’m a big rebounder and an energy guy,” McEldon told On3 after a recent win. “I focus on really cleaning up on the boards, getting offensive rebounds and putbacks. I’m playing better as a team defender with my angles and footwork. I watch a lot of Tim Duncan and how he scored it, his post moves.”

College coaches started to notice him this summer with the Team Loaded VA 3ssb circuit team. On3 caught up with Luke McEldon at the recent Prep School National Championships to go in-depth about the schools recruiting him the hardest.

“I hear from Virginia Tech a lot,” McEldon said. “I’ve been talking to Hofstra and Old Dominion a good bit. I am talking to Purdue a lot, but they haven’t offered yet. I have visited Virginia Tech, and I may visit Old Dominion soon.”

McEldon talks recruitment

Virginia Tech: “I visited there not too long ago, and it went really well. I really liked the vibe of the program, how they play. Their playstyle is a lot like here at Cushing. I fit in with that. They like how I rebound, and they want their fives to be able to do that.”

“I will try and set a visit up with Purdue because I want to find out more about the program,” McEldon said.

Purdue: “They talk to me a lot, maybe more than anyone else. They are a team-first program that focuses on togetherness. They also have some of the best big men in the country.”

McEldon’s take

“A lot of what I am looking for is a family-oriented atmosphere and how they all connect as a team,” McEldon said. “I’m looking at how they develop their players, their big men. I want to keep developing to make it to the next level and get to the league. I want to be able to play a lot early and make a big impact on a team that has a chance to win the tournament.”

On3’s take

Luke McEldon has excellent size with long arms and naturally broad shoulders. He has great hands, able to corral passes in traffic around the rim. McEldon is a good area rebounder with big hands. He continues to improve, both with his conditioning and in his game. McEldon has a go-to move over his left shoulder that he is comfortable. He will need to stay on top of the weight while gaining more athleticism. The value with McEldon is that he knows who he is, knows what he does, and plays within himself.