Breakdown: Purdue Basketball's springtime recruiting agenda

Building up to what could be another big season, the next few months for Purdue will be spent fortifying the future, as it’s time to recruit the players who’ll soon be needed to help replace the best senior class in college basketball after this season.

FIVE PURDUE PRIORITY TARGETS

Mind you, there are months ahead that will shape this recruiting picture for Purdue, but as far as those targets who have been well established for some time, here are names to know.

Class of 2026 Forward Trey Thompson
The single most important recruiting priority right now for Purdue has to be Thompson, who has been an absolute priority since last summer and a player it has seemed close to landing at times. Matt Painter badly needs a 4 man in this class and the multi-skilled Thompson jibes well with the direction Purdue wants to move at that spot. Thompson has indicated he may decide this spring, perhaps after the live period, May 16-18.

Class of 2026 big man Jamyn Sondrup
The one clearly established and known big man target on Purdue’s board — there will be more — Sondrup is a big-bodied cross between Trevion Williams and Trey Kaufman-Renn, but can shoot the three, too. Purdue’s Painter and PJ Thompson were just out to Utah to visit Sondrup, who officially visited West Lafayette early in the season.

Class of 2026 guard Junior County
The combo guard from Wasatch Academy in Utah has long been a Purdue target since he was offered last summer. He also officially visited early in the season.

Class of 2026 forward Bo Ogden
A classic Purdue-compatible fit, the versatile 3/4 is an intangible-rich player who drew Purdue’s attention right away. The Austin native’s father, Chris, is a former college head coach who remains on staff at Texas after the Longhorns’ coaching change. Bo Ogden officially visited Purdue during the season.

Class of 2026 guard Brandon Bass Jr.
It won’t be easy pulling the NBA legacy from the Southeast, but Purdue got him on campus for an in-season official visit, so clearly there is real interest, as the Boilermaker program has built a reputation now for producing high-level guards.

Class of 2026 guard Taylen Kinney
Signing Omer Mayer lessened Purdue’s urgency to recruit Braden Smith‘s successor in this class, but Purdue’s already dedicated quite a bit of effort into the blue-chip Overtime Elite guard, so it may as well stick around with him and see what happens.

A couple of others to note.

Class of 2026 wing Keriawn Berry
Purdue doesn’t have a ton of athleticism right now, part of the reason it’s looking closely at the high-flying wing from Avon High School. He’ll require some skill development, but he is physically mature and clearly a high-major athlete.

Class of 2026 forward Noah Smith
The Plainfield standout is 6-foot-8, getting bigger and stronger, and a really potent shooter for a frontcourt player. Purdue’s been keeping in contact and will presumably watch him at some point this spring or summer. Painter covets shooting.

FOUR BROAD STORYLINES

• Keep doing what you’re doing. Purdue will keep recruiting high school players and building its program that way, but will supplement as needed via the transfer market. As it’s been the past few springs and summers, Boilermaker coaches will be dedicated to watching 15U and 16U games while most other programs won’t spend much time on players that young anymore, because of the portal and the last-second influence money can wield, though the House settlement could change that some.

• Transfers. Again, Purdue will use the transfer market to supplement its high school-recruit-heavy foundations and fill needs, but does it make sense to take one transfer a year just to balance out classes and get older? It might. Also, churn is inevitable. Purdue won’t be immune from having to replace players who depart.

• Redshirting. With 15-man roster caps more or less in place already, there is ultimate roster flexibility. Purdue values walk-ons and scout-teamers, but the possibility now very much exists that every now and then redshirting-committed programs like Purdue could take players specifically to redshirt, with that plan clear up front. Painter isn’t going to be able to play 15 players and won’t want more than 10, tops, expecting minutes, but seems like he’d be open to having a few extra “scholarship” guys around as long as their expectations are managed in no uncertain terms up front.

• International Recruiting: Mayer’s signing came at a time when international recruiting seems to be really coming to the forefront in the Big Ten and nationally, as overseas pros can keep their full eligibility if they come to the U.S. for college as revenue-sharing is insulated from federal work visa requirements. Purdue has made some staff moves to at least keep tabs on the overseas market, but also international players here in the States, and it makes sense it would continue to be active in this market. Every year? Maybe, maybe not.

THE 2027 RECRUITING CLASS

Purdue will remain wholly committed to seeing players early and recruiting them for an extended period of time, while fewer and fewer programs are dedicating much time and effort to underclassmen.

The work began long ago on the 2027 cycle and there will be some real plums in that class Purdue will chase.

A few of them.

Class of 2027 center Isaiah Hill
The Pike 7-footer has a Purdue offer and the Boilermakers may be well ahead of the field on him early on, but this spring and summer could bring him a good deal of attention.

Class of 2027 guard Jason Gardner Jr.
An absolutely elite player who’ll probably will have the chance to go anywhere he wants, the Fishers High school star was Purdue’s first known 2027 offer.

Class of 2027 guard Jaxson Davis
Another high-end point guard in ’27, the Chicagoland native visited Purdue during the season and will be closely watched on the Nike EYBL circuit this spring and summer.

Class of 2027 guard Chase Branham
The Missouri scoring guard visited during the season, too, and will be one of Purdue’s priority evaluations the next few months.

Class of 2027 guard Landon Evans

PURDUE ‘SCHOLARSHIP’ CHART AS OF NOW

No.	2025-2026	2026-2027	2027-2028	2028-2029	2029-230	The Great Beyond …
1	Fletcher Loyer (Sr.)	CJ Cox (Jr.)	CJ Cox (Sr.)	Jack Benter (Sr.)	—	—
2	Braden Smith (Sr.)	Daniel Jacobsen (Jr.)	Daniel Jacobsen (Sr.)	Antione West (Sr.)	—	—
3	Trey Kaufman-Renn (Sr.)	Gicarri Harris (Jr.)	Gicarri Harris (Sr.)	Omer Mayer (Jr.)	—	—
4	Oscar Cluff (Sr.)	Raleigh Burgess (Jr.)	Raleigh Burgess (Sr.)	Luke Ertel (Jr.)	—	—
5	Liam Murphy (Sr.)	Jack Benter (So.)	Jack Benter (Jr.)	—	—	—
6	CJ Cox (So.)	Antione West (So.)	Antione West (Jr.)	—	—	—
7	Daniel Jacobsen (So.)	Omer Mayer (So.)	Omer Mayer (Jr.)	—	—	—
8	Gicarri Harris (So.)	Luke Ertel (Fr.)	Luke Ertel (So.)	—	—	—
9	Raleigh Burgess (So.)	—	—	—	—	—
10	Jack Benter (R-Fr.)	—	—	—	—	—
11	Antione West (Fr.)	—	—	—	—	—
12	Omer Mayer (Fr.)	—	—	—	—	—
13	—	—	—	—	—	—
14	—	—	—	6-7	225	—
15	—	—	—	6-3	180	—

Note: Jacobsen will be eligible for a medical redshirt but that may not be finalized ’til the end of his career. He is essentially a redshirt freshman, but will officially be listed as a sophomore.