Recruiting News and Notes

Welcome to Purdue Recruiting News and Notes, a spot for assorted bits of Purdue news, analysis and so on and so forth.

PURDUE BASKETBALL AND RECRUITING

Just a quick notebook dump of sorts here …

• We’d expect Purdue to probably take as many as two more transfers or other variety of addition, assuming the portal defections have stopped, which we believe they have.

We know Purdue has a couple of lines in the water internationally, but what comes of that I don’t know. But it is worth noting that Sasha Stefanovic was tasked this season with using some of his contacts overseas to drum up some prospects, and Matt Painter did at one point this season randomly voice his approval for overseas pros being allowed NCAA eligibility. Think Kasparas at Illinois.

One of the players we think Purdue is involved with is a combo forward named Ognjen Srzentic from Belgrade.

Anyway, we’ll see.

It stands to reason that since Purdue lost two wings/wing-forwards and its two best athletes, that it would look to replace that element if possible. Purdue ultimately still wants to be a fast-break-minded team and while it was painfully short on size this season, it won’t want to see a similar gap surface when it comes to athleticism and open-floor ability and above-the-rim punch.

Before Oscar Cluff committed, Purdue seemed as if it wanted to try to sign two bigs, but in the big picture now, with Trey Kaufman-Renn presumably being your 4 man, we’ll see. How do you recruit someone for minutes that just aren’t there? Raleigh Burgess is back, but his ability to rapidly improve with experience this season was kneecapped by his shin injury.

We do not know who Purdue is going to recruit from the portal, if they know. Purdue tries to move quick-and-clean with this stuff, unlike a lot of schools who just want to see their name on every list. Information on this stuff is driven by agents or whoever is tipping off our man Joe Tipton and whoever else is in that game.

Keep an eye out for point guard Omer Mayer from Israel. He is very much in the mix, we believe. Mayer iss one of the best 2025 prospects iheading into college next season. Just 18 and a rarity receiving minutes in the Euroleage at his age, the 6-foot-4 guard averaged 18.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG and 6.7 APG in AGNT and reportedly conducted zoom calls with a few top programs and will compete in this year’s Nike hoop summit on April. 12

Purdue obviously will not recruit old friends Kanon Catchings, Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn or Xavier Booker. And there’s no real reason anymore to recruit Flory Bidunga, a recruitment that has Indiana written all over it considering their money situation and the fact they just hired Drew Adams to their staff.

There is some reason to suggest that Northwestern’s Brooks Barnhizer is in the mix but have no hard evidence of that being in the works. It was too specific a piece of info, though, for us not to take seriously. (Note: Barnhizer was rumored to have received his waiver to play a sixth year on April 9. There are lots of rumors out there.

• The departures of Myles Colvin and Camden Heide does open up some depth-chart oxygen here for redshirt freshman Jack Benter, who Purdue has loved all season. We’d expect that he’ll get every opportunity to earn a real role for them this season. As much ability as Colvin and Heide have, there was a cap on what they could do as ball-handlers and passers. Purdue covets dribbling, passing and shooting skills at every position they can be found and whatever athleticism is lost here is offset somewhat by a bump in those skills. Don’t misunderstand this as us saying this is an upgrade over the guys who left. Experience alone represents a step backward, but Benter may — may — end up being a better shooter than either of those guys, certainly a better passer and higher IQ sort of player. He is not small by any means, but not the physical presence of either Heide or Colvin, but you don’t really need him to be. Heide’s physical demeanor really only came into focus because Purdue needed him to bang when it played small.

Defensively, we’d expect Purdue to continue on with the system it used this season, which is dependent on players being detail-oriented and cerebral and Benter should check both those boxes.

• Job 1 in 2026 recruiting might be continuing to advance with forward Trey Thompson, who we still have reason to believe is leaning to Purdue. Tennessee has offered but how serious they’ve been, we don’t know. They’re going to be portal-crazy and Purdue is going to keep prioritizing high school guys. And now Rick Barnes’ longevity in Knoxville is becoming a public conversation based on the press conference we overheard while working at Lucas Oil Stadium last week.

• PJ Thompson was at Chipotle Nationals Thursday night — the national prep school championship — watching (at least) 2026 guard targets Felipe Quinones of IMG and Junior County, who plays for Wasatch Academy in Utah, where Heide spent his senior year. Heide sat on Wasatch’s bench Thursday night, we’re told.

As for Heide’s transfer, we do believe it sort of came out of the blue after Matt Painter met with players on Sunday. It wasn’t until Tuesday that Heide decided to split. We do believe new Minnesota coach Niko Medved has been stirring things up a bit in his first few weeks on the job, but we’d be surprised if Heide went there. His family lives in Mobile now. (BN)

• The extra-chaotic nature of this portal window lies in the fact that with the House case presumably to be settled or around April 7, schools and collectives need to empty their NIL coffers by July 1 before the revenue-sharing model takes holds. All NIL deals following that point will be subject to the next oversight model, which is supposed to audit all transactions of $600 or more and report red flags to the new enforcement bureau. Yeah, we’ll see on that last part, but the point is that we have gone from the Studio 54 Era of NIL to the Brewster’s Millions Era (if you’re too young to get that, ask.)

• The transfer portal closes April 22. There is always an exception for any players whose coaches leave.

This should be a quiet weekend, with it being the Final Four. Purdue’s coaches, we think, are in San Antonio. (BN)

PURDUE FOOTBALL

A frank assessment of the team as spring ball hits the home stretch.

OFFENSE
• Two of the biggest concerns: quarterback and receiver.

• None of the quarterbacks have really been impressive. Evans Cuba of Washington State has upside but doesn’t value the ball. He has a ways to go and needs to mature. Malachi Singleton Arkansas could be a good No. 2. He can be trusted. EJ Colson from UCF? Jury is out.

Bennett Meredith could be the No. 2 man now. Just don’t know if he’ll be given a fair shot. He may leave, but where would he go? He could be the No. 3 man here.

At this momemt, Singleton looks like the most trustworthy, so he could be a de facto No. 1.

That brings us to the topic of portal QB: If Purdue imports one–and I think it will–it likely would need to part way with two scholarships QBs now on the roster. That would open money room for the staff to pay upwards of $1 million for a portal QB. And that’s probably what it would take to get a starting caliber guy–or ballyhooed prospect.

A name to watch: South Carolina’s Air Noland, a former four-star recruit who transferred to the Gamecocks from Ohio State.

• There are no alpha wideouts on the roster. And there also aren’t a lot of game snaps. This is a pretty inexperienced group.

Looks like Purdue may have missed on Isaiah Myers from Charlotte. Thought he could bring some value and size to the room, but just don’t think he runs well enough to get open in the Big Ten.

Charles Ross from USC could be a good player. He’s not overly physical and hasn’t played a bunch the last couple of years because of injury.

EJ Horton of FAU didn’t play last year. Probably has as much or more experience than anybody. But I don’t see it.

Nathan Leacock of Tennessee? Not sold on him. Don’t think he’s that good. De’Nylon Morrissette is probably the most reliable wideout. Chauncey Magwood is good but just had surgery on a foot and figures to be out the rest of spring ball. Jayden Dixon-Veal may graduate and move on. Tra’Mar Harris has a chance but has a long ways go.

So, in my mind, the top three wideouts are: Magwood, Ross, Morrissette.

The staff will look for an WR in the portal. It also will look for a depth piece. Two current wideouts could leave.

• TE George Burhenn is big time, Mackey-type player if healthy. He is the best player on the roster. Christian Moore and Christian Earls, those guys are good role players.

• RB is better than staff thinks. Incoming freshman Jaron Thomas may be way better than people realize.. He could have been an all-state linebacker last year at Concord High in Elkhart, Ind.

• On the offensive line, Ethan Trent has looked good of late and more forge a starting role at right guard.

You could see some heavy portal action. trying to get guys lined up now.

If healthy, Joey Tanona is a legit No. 1 LT in the Big Ten. He is playing like a ND recruit now. There is a reason he went to ND out of high school.

Jalen St. John played tackle at UNLV; he’s a left guard here next to Tanona He is one of top 10 players on the roster.

Canadian transfer import Giordano Vacarro is good. He just needs to just keep getting better. Vacarro will snap.

RT Bayne Coly has one year left; it’s now or never. He does well at times; had bad day in Friday’s scrimmage. He looks the part. Can he step up and play with consistency?

LT John Randle has a future if he adds weight. He got sick and lost weight. He’s 278 now. The staff likes him.

Jaden Ball is a plesant surprise after moving from guard to right tackle. Looks comfortable.

Max Parrott has a ways to go.

Bottom line: The staff probably would be OK playing only six guys: Tanona, St. John, Vacarro, Trent, Coly and Mason Vicari, who is dealing with an ankle issue now but should be back soon.

The staff could part ways with three scholarship linemen. It could bring in as many as 5-6 linemen if it can find enough Big Ten-caliber guys. This unit needs a life preserver.

DEFENSE
• The line has potential with 5-7 legit players. Off the edge, the staff likes Trey Smith, C.J. Madden and Breeon Ishmail of Michigan. On the interior, TJ Lindsey of Auburn, Jamarrion Harkless, Jamarious Dinkins have stood out. Akron’s CJ Nunnally is a depth guy off the edge.

The best player on D? It is Lindsey, who may be a pro.

Dinkins really struggled last year after transferring from Kentucky. Bottom line: He was a bust. But DL coach Kelvin Green has done a heck of a job amping up Dinkins, who is playing his butt off. He has better techinque and is revving his motor.

Mo Omonode could be important if he gets cleared after back surgery. But, there is a chance he won’t be cleared. Demeco Kennedy can be good depth interior guy.

• Linebacker is a worry. Mani Powell from UNLV and Alex Sanford from Arkansas are legit. It nabbing Tennessee State tranfer Sanders Ellis was huge. After that? Winston Berglund can’t stay healthy; he’s often wearing a non-contact green penny. Carson Dean of Arkansas and Owen Davis are just “guys.” Hudson Miller is a fierce tough guy and strong as heck, but he should be limited to special teams.

• Some good players in secondary. Heady S Stu Smith is good in the box, but the staff probably needs to limit his exposure in coverage.

Purdue looks to have three legit corners in Ryan Turner of Boston College, Tony Grimes of UNLV and Huduauri Hines. S Crew Wakely of BYU has shown some wear and tear injuries but is solid. can add value. Smiley Bradford has a chance to help in big way; D’Mon Marable has ways to go, ST guy for now.

• As for portal help, it would not be a shock to see Purdue add two DLs for depth, along with 1-2 more LBs and maybe another safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Don’t be shocked if Purdue tries to upgrade at all three spots–or at least improve the No. 2 guys–at kicker, punter, long-snapper. (TD)

PURDUE FOOTBALL RECRUITING

Small group at today’s practice. There will be a group of 10-15 from Lawrence Central High in Indianapolis. The name to know: 2026 OL James “Bam” Williams, who has a Purdue offer.

Also of note: 2027 QB Jake Nawrot is coming from Prospect Heights (Ill.) John Hersey High. He has some MAC offers and might have a chance down the line to earn an offer.

2026 EDGE McHale Blade of Chicago Simeon will be on campus after originally being set to visit Saturday, when Purdue will scrimmage. He’s a big-timer with some boffo offers. (TD)