Sterling Carter's Long Circuitous Route to West Lafayette

Matty has picked up another 5th year transfer for the 2013-2014 season.

Sterling Carter is a PG out of the state of Washington who started his college career at The University of Pacific, where he redshirted his only year on campus.  The next year, he transferred to Seattle University, sat out a year, and played his final three seasons in Seattle.

His minutes dropped from over 800 during his Soph. season, to nearly 600 his Junior season, to 150 for his final year at SU after being released in January from the team.  His points reflected his loss of minutes- starting at over 13pts/gm during his Soph year, and ending at 7 pts/game during last year, the abridged season.

Honestly, I don't know anything about the guy...nor do I know anything about how Purdue started talking to him.  I can't find any easy connections with the coaching staff or current team.  BUT, GBI talked about a silent verbal commitment from a fifth year Senior months ago...and Sterling Carter is the guy.

From what I've read, he's a streaky shooter who can torch teams when hot.  He came off the bench twice in his last two seasons at Seattle to score 25+ points, and did most of his damage from behind the arc.  He's also a pretty good on-ball defender. One game of note- he had three steals v. University of Washington in January of 2012.

Whenever a guy has three stops during college, I never see it as anything but negative...But I don't know anything about this guy- personality, temperament, leadership, etc...So I won't speak about it much further.

Methinks he might be able to come in and challenge the team right away in practice simply because he seems pretty skilled (from the limited stuff I've read)...But, my hope is that RonJon and Scott are occupying a ton of minutes by the end of the season as they'll obviously be here for the long haul.

Carter takes Purdue's roster to nearly-full capacity.

Addendum:
His nickname is "Sporty" and he is a guy who loves to shoot, according to a few more articles I've read.  A Seattle U basketball blog called "SeattleUHoops" said there was no ill-will when he was released, and he didn't want to leave.  The disagreement seems to come from Carter's quick, conscious-less trigger and Seattle's coach being a guy who loves to play up-tempo and get the ball close to the basket...We'll have more as we learn/hear it.


Addendum2:
After watching some video, here's what I see- he has a super-fast release, great handles in traffic and, at least a few seasons ago, had a ton of moxy, if you will. Kinda reminds me of an And1 mixtape guy...catch and release; if there's space, he's shoots from behind the arc.

Seems a bit like AJohn's antithesis as he's not long, perhaps a bit undersized, but has one of the quickest releases I can remember seeing...and his shot seems to be pretty pure.

He might be the only score-first mentality guy on the team, although TJohn obviously has some of that at times, but on the drive...we'll see how this all blends.

In Pursuit of Young Men

As you probably know, fellow Indianapolis Cathedral alum Errick Peck has his final three down to Purdue, Xavier and Duquesne...and the decision rides on upcoming visits to the latter schools.

For those of you that don't get wrapped up in recruiting- good for you.  It's a dirty, slimy business, even when it's within the rules...and it's putrid and foul when the teams that press the envelope get involved with a kid's Dad or AAU coach who is a willing dance partner.  Plus, as we all know too well, Purdue is a consummate bridesmaid in these battles; timing isn't right, player didn't receive enough love (hate that fricking phrase), or a player miraculously changes his mind due to circumstances unknown.

BUT, the Errick Peck scenario is different.  He's 21 years old, a fifth year Senior and seemingly damned important to Purdue.  Not sure if the Muskies or Dukes need him as much as Purdue right now...and am also not sure that it matters to Peck.  He's gotta do what's best for him at this point.  We talked about Peck a few weeks ago as one of the guys we wanted to see in a Purdue uni as he would check off a number of boxes that the program needs right now...but none is a bigger box than maturity; something this squad desperately needs.

Back in 2009, Peck didn't receive offers from any of the teams that he's got in his final three this time around. Butler was really the only offer of note (if you're looking at it solely from a basketball power standpoint)...But this was pre-back-to-back NCAA finals appearance Butler.  The other two offers were Missouri State and Evansville. When he weighed his options, Peck thought paying for an Ivy League education would be of some value after he was done playing basketball (weird idea, right?).

As I save for my kids' college tuition in the distant future, Purdue's nearly $10k pricetag doesn't seem like chump change.  But Cornell's $45k/year ticket is eye-popping. Keep in mind that price doesn't include room, board or tweed blazers with a crest on the breast (which I presume all Ivy League students have to wear year-round). I'm not sure exactly how much Peck and his family had to pay for his tuition per year...but it was a lot more than $0.

Peck was injured one season, played three solid years, has an Ivy League diploma and now has a chance to play in the new-fangled Big East, A10 or B1G...and potentially make an impact at any of the three programs. I'm glad Purdue's in this conversation and has a chance to land him; a character guy who's also a good basketball player isn't a bad thing for a program, even for only a season.  I have no idea if Kelsey Barlow is a close communication to Peck due to their time at Cathedral...but have read nothing that indicates they are- that can't be a negative for Painter at this point.

According to many sources I've read, Painter's pitch to Peck has been consistent with what Painter does- he makes no promises.  And unlike a typical 18 year old recruit with little life experience behind him and bad counsel whispering in his ear, Peck seems to like Painter's recruiting technique.

And speaking of that technique, the message boards have been ablaze (kinda) with the discussion of Painter as a recruiter. Plenty of Purdue fans want to see Painter stop being so honest, and maybe sugar coat the product that he's selling a bit.  I get what they're saying.

On one hand, you have "coach A" who tells a kid that he can't stop thinking about him via social networking, or that he reminds him of an NBA all-star.  On the other hand, you have a coach that refuses to promise playing time, let alone express his undying admiration for an 18 year old boy.  As a guy who is a horrible liar, I get where Painter's coming from...but as a guy who also sells business service to clients, I know that there's a time for brutal honestly, and the courting process isn't that time. Painter also should make sure not to wear the suit that looks like jeans and a khaki blazer on recruiting visits; my dead Grandpa thinks that one is out of style...I digress.

But Painter's recruiting helped him get a verbal commit from Dakota Mathias this week...that's a good thing.  Mathias isn't currently in anyone's top-150, but based on the way his young AAU season is going, he'll break into one of the recruiting service's rankings in the next few months. He's between 6'4" and 6'6" (according to different sources), is a good shooter and is out of Ohio.  He felt like Purdue was a good fit and seems to really want to play in God's country...so that's a good start.  Just as Hazell got his first '14 verbal, Mathias will be in Painter's 2014 class...but there are three or four other players who look to be Purdue leans.  We'll see who pans out in the next few months. You can be assured of one thing though- we at BS won't be too excited about any of these guys until they sign their letters of intent.

Sorry for the diversion from our normal focus, NHL hockey of course...I'll do my best to get you an update as soon as I care about it.

Matty's 2013 Harvest

Today is signing day for the class of 2013...and we're looking forward to seeing this group on campus. This year's Freshman class is impactful simply because Painter's search for size and a PG came to fruition within it...but next season, there are some guys that seem to be more out of the mold of what we've come to expect from Matty as a recruiter.

This class of three doesn't have the collective chip on their shoulder that the class of '12 seems to embody, but one guy's mentality should make Purdue fans happy right away.

"Bulldog"

Point guard, Bryson Scott is one of the best defenders in the nation, according to Rivals.com...and if you see him play, you'll quickly understand why he has that reputation.  Physically, he's pretty solid, but mentally, he sets himself apart.  Scott seems to love contact, especially on defense and doesn't back down from anyone.  He has quick hands and doesn't take plays off...on offense, his stop and pop help create space and his athleticism is often overlooked because his tenacity and scrappiness is more of the story.

If you're looking for a former Boiler to compare him with, I'd look at Chris Kramer. Kramer is a few inches taller, but as a Freshman, was built similarly to Scott.  And, I believe, Painter will have a very hard time keeping him off the court, like Kramer, because of his bulldog mentality.

Everett Stephens is #21(on the right)

The second guard in the class is the son of one of the most-renowned three-man Senior classes in the last 30 years.  Kendall Stephens is Everett's son...Everett was one of the members of the Three Amigos; Gene Keady's prized class from 1988...but Kendall's play reminds me more of Troy Lewis' than his Dad's.

This Kid can Play

Stephens is a dead-eye shooter with the length and quick release that allows him to shoot over defenders.  He is a decent ball-handler, but will earn his schollie from distance.  If you're not old enough to remember Troy Lewis, think David Teague.

Sadly, Stephens tore his labrum in his shooting shoulder...and it looks like he'll be out for his Senior season...he should be at 100% by the time he arrives in God's country though.

The last member of the class is the guy who sometimes gets forgotten by recruiting mags, Basil Smotherman.  He's the son of a coach, which is never a bad thing, but along with his ability to understand the game, he's a very smooth athlete.  He's a long 6'6" player...listed at 6'7" in some sources who is a left hander that can do it all.

Bas is ill.

He's a solid rebounder, but not a banger.  Once he's cleaned the glass, he can bring the ball up the court and has great vision so he can easily find a slasher...should be nice for TJohn and Raphael Davis.  If I were to compare him to a Boiler in the last few seasons, it'd be Hummel (as a Frosh), but with a bit more quickness. His versatility is the thing that draws me to that comparison more than anything...and he might grow another inch or two in college, so he could end his career at Purdue at a similar height to Rob.

I'm glad these guys are Boilermakers...welcome, fellas.

Monday Gumbo

You Can't Lose What You Never Had

I know, I know, Purdue was all-but-guaranteed to get the services of a transfer from Wright State...can't remember his name right now...but, as we all know too well, guarantees from recruits, whether they're 17 or 22 years old, are about as solid as mashed potatoes.  The guys that want to come to Purdue end up at Purdue, plain and simple. Those that are wishy-washy don't want to come and there's not much else that can be said/done about that.

Many around the message boards and Twitter are piling on Matty right now, saying he's not a closer.  In their defense, there seems to be a pattern forming here- when Painter faces off against slimeballs coaches for big time talent, he doesn't win very often. But the guys who enjoy the limelight, keep taking additional visits and try to wait as long as they can might not be good fits with Painter anyway.  I'll speak from my own perspective for a moment...since that's all I can really do-

If I had a very talented guy/girl say he was interested in working for my company, but he needed to go to a few more interviews before signing on with me, I'd probably be visibly agitated.  That might be why Painter hasn't been able to close out on some of these guys.  OR, maybe, perhaps, the playing field isn't level.  We all know life isn't fair...and watching recruiting battles reminds us of this, and other principles- not everybody operates by the same rules, the good guy doesn't always win (in fact, he doesn't usually win) and you can't ever quit when things get difficult.

One thing Purdue fans can be sure of is Matty is an excellent judge of talent.  Recently, coaches like Teflon John Calipari, Tom Izzo and Tom Crean have all followed in his wake after an offer was given to a kid. I don't know if Purdue will land a five-star guy anytime soon...but those that are coming in the next two years are pretty damned good at playing basketball.

Specifically, the class of '13 is looking better and better.  My hope is that their individual rankings don't get inflated...and the three guys (who actually want to come to Purdue, by the way) continue to work hard with the chip squarely on their collective shoulder.  Bryson Scott started to show a lot during his HS season, Kendall Stephens has done so time and again in the last few months, and just this weekend, Basil Smotherman played at an elite level at an AAU tourney.  While Smotherman was the sixth man on his HS team last season, during the AAU season, that's not the case...and when called upon, he's been answering the bell.

As of now, it doesn't look like there will be any additions to the recruiting class for next year...upper classman, or any other class for that matter...but there are a few guys that have expressed interest in Purdue, so while the doors are closing, nothing's completely shut...yet.

The last thing I'll leave you with is what I've always said- while reading up on recruiting is a good thing to do as a fan, try not to get too enthralled with recruits until they're officially Boilermakers.  There are too many variables that are out of control of Purdue's coaches.  Plus, I like the guys that have chosen to play for my alma mater.  And one of those, Ronnie Johnson will be playing a huge amount of minutes nearly right away.

Definitely coming to Purdue.

Tortoise and the Hare

While slow and steady will win you a ton of contests, the Lotus power plant at Indy doesn't look like it's going to win anything this season...or maybe any other...but they've got the slow part down pat.

While most of those running laps around the famous oval are in the upper-two-teens, the Lotus machines seem to be unable to squeeze anything more than a 208, thus far.  Granted, these teams, and this power plant doesn't have the miles of testing that the other two do, but that doesn't really matter at this point. These cars look like they don't belong...and since there have been so many defections already from Lotus power, I'd bet that there won't be many running this engine by the end of the season.

A couple of 221+ laps have been turned so far...but one was heavily-aided by a tow.  I'm still hoping for a pole of 222 or 223...but the more I watch these cars, the more I think that they just don't have it in them, especially with the boost set up as it currently is.

Teams like Andretti, Penske and Ganassi simply aren't finding top speeds, at least yet...but the rumor is none of them are trimmed out yet, and are just getting the cars shaken down...these three have the best engineers and the deepest pockets, and they know what they're doing. So hopefully, we'll see some shockingly-fast laps by Saturday, if not before.  If you want to follow what's happening at the track during the day, click here.

Until the three big money teams start focusing on qualifying, enjoy seeing new guys like Clauson and Newgarden making names for themselves.

In Case You're Wondering, but Are Too Lazy to Check

John Hart has transfered to IUPUI...and Barlow is rumored to have interest in Iowa State.  BUT, the enigmatic Barlow might end up anywhere for his final year of NCAA eligibility (after sitting out a season).

As of right now, Purdue has 11 of 13 scholarships occupied for '12-'13...and Anthrop (at the very least) will get another year under scholarship unless something dramatic and unforeseen occurs.

Champs!

Purdue's Baseball Boilers clinched a part of the B1G title this weekend...but couldn't get the one additional needed win for the outright title at home this weekend. They'll have three chances to get the sole title versus the six games under-.500 Iowa Hawkeyes on the road...and will also play ISU this week for the last game ever at Lambert Field.

They're currently 39-10...a 40+ win season should help them with their case to get into the post-season.

Brother Boilers and Pizza Prep

Woody and Chad Austin, Greg and Gary McQuay all have done what Terone and Ronnie Johnson chose to do- play basketball at Purdue. But the Johnsons are the only pair of Boiler brothers in the last 20 years that have the ability to be on the court at the same time. And with Ryne Smith and LewJack both graduating at the end of this year, they will probably both be starting very early next season.

We received an e-mail from Indiana Recruiting Guide telling us they were about to post a look at the younger Johnson, so we wanted to pass it on to you.

Johnson's court vision, quickness, ability to find the open man and keep the defense honest with his three-point shot all make him a player that will be tough to keep off the court next season.  The void LewJack will leave will be sizable and tough to fill...but Johnson like Jackson seems to have the tools that will allow his game to translate to the next level in spite of being shorter than many high recruits at the PG position.

Click HERE for videos and info about Ronnie Johnson.

All News is Bad News
As Purdue gets ready for the bowl game on the 27th more bad news than good seems to be coming out of West La La.  First we heard about OJ Ross being suspended for academic concerns...two days ago, we heard what we thought we'd be hearing- Ross will not be playing in the bowl due to missing too much practice.

Gary Bush will be picking up the slack that Ross' suspension leaves.  I've been a fan of Bush all season as he's been very consistent, runs crisp routes and doesn't take plays off.  There's no doubt that Ross is a gifted guy, but talent alone only takes you so far...and Bush's ability to do the little things made the offense better when he played this season.

Atop of Ross' academic woes, starting linebacker and leading tackler Dwayne Beckford was arrested for DWI this weekend.  Purdue had kept it pretty quiet, but Beckford had been arrested back in July for possession of drug paraphernalia...and in June was arrested for leaving the scene in which he had hit a parked car.

The most-recent charge is made more serious because Beckford was already on probation due to the previous arrests.

One of the aspects of Hope's time at Purdue has been this type of stuff has been less prevalent than it was in the latter seasons of Tiller's tenure at Purdue. I didn't have any time for repeat offenders then, and really don't now.  Making one mistake isn't the same as getting arrested three times in a six month period...And while I really like Hope's focus on academics, there is no comparison to the severity of not going to class or doing poorly on tests and drinking while driving.

Seems to me that Beckford should be suspended right away- not because he's automatically guilty, but because he's already had a history of poor behavior...so I'd think he'd not only be on probation with the police, but also with the coaches.

Prior to Beckford's arrest, the coaches had already announced they'd be playing more nickel defense to counter Western Michigan's pass-happy offense...so Beckford not playing shouldn't be the end of the world.  Harris was going to see the field more and on running downs, I'd think Carlino will play. Carlino of course has been a starter and plays with a ton of intensity, which is never bad for a defense.

Losing a RB like Ralph Bolden with only weeks to prepare a back-up would have been catastrophic in previous seasons...but as we've talked about ad nauseaum, this year's Purdue backfield is just different. Shavers was Bolden's 1A when healthy, and the guys behind him proved themselves to be talented time and again.

The other Akeem that'll be getting more carries, Hunt, gives up about 25 pounds in the stead of Bolden/Shavers...but is a shiftier runner and has better break-away speed.

All this said, the way Nord called the offense this season, the loss of an RB really doesn't affect Purdue's game plan at all. Edison, Pegram, Crank and even Mostert will probably all get chances to carry the ball in Detroit.

Hope says there are a few guys that are still not out of the woods academically and there might be more that can't play in Detroit. The coaches will know in the next week.

Regardless of academic attrition, injuries or problems with the law, I don't think these issues should matter.  Heck, even if Purdue were to lose a QB, would we really see a quantitative difference in offensive output?

Purdue would be hurt with the loss of Allen and/or Johnson...or if Short and/or Gaston couldn't play v. WMU.  And if Kelly couldn't play, that'd be costly...and obviously, there's a tipping point when you lose 3, 4, 5...starters, but I've heard nothing to make me think any of these guys are in danger.

So let's just enjoy the 10th-best B1G bowl for 2011/12, regardless of which Boilers can suit up, shall we?

Baby Boilers v. 2 (2012)

Painter's 2007 class was in the top-5 to top-10 depending on which magazine was doing the ranking...and Matty simply had to have that class make an instant impact due to attrition during the spring prior to the original Baby Boilers' arrival in God's Country.

Things are much different now.

The last four seasons, Purdue has been a regular among the best in the conference, is a perennial NCAA tourney team, had been ranked for nearly four-straight seasons and the program is back on sure footing.  But the incoming class is important for a number of reasons.

First, and probably least-importantly, this class helped reaffirm some faith in Painter as a recruiter.  Sure, the '09 & '10 classes had a total of three 4-star players, but they were all guards.  Many thought Painter was having trouble getting highly-touted bigs to take Purdue seriously in the wake of the past few seasons.

A Look at the First Three Days (& basketball recruiting notes)

It's kinda tough to glean a whole bunch from the practice reports- that's part of the reason we don't post each day after practice. But, based on what we're reading and hearing here are a few stories that are sticking out to us right now:

-Ralph Bolden hasn't given any reason for the coaches, nor his teammates to be concerned in the first few days. Players and coaches alike are impressed with his quickness and ability to change direction quickly. There hasn't been a ton of contact yet, so while this is very good news, they're not quite playing football yet.

-Marve looks leaner to me...but is actually a few pounds heavier than he was listed last year at this time. The knee that they took the pateller tendon from (in his first ACL repair) is still a bit sore after practice, but the repaired ACL is holding up well. Everytime I hear Marve talk, I feel for the guy. Like most people that injure, or re-injure their knee seriously, he was really shaken by what happened last fall. All that said, he's stayed pretty positive.

GBI is reporting that He'll seek a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. We all remember how well that went last time it was attempted at Purdue.

-The pace of the practices is better than it was at this time last year, but through the coach speak, you can hear Hope saying he wishes they were a little further along since all three of top QBs on the depth chart have practiced in this offense.

-Ricardo Allen is good.

-Josh Johnson looks a bit more filled out than this time last year...and both he and Allen pride themselves in being able to tackle as well as cover. The extra weight/muscle will come in handy later.

-Normando Harris is back on the defensive side of the ball.

-Charles Torwudzu is either a gigantic receiver or a small tight end or a slot HBack type of guy...he's now up to 6'4" & 230.

-Rashad Frazier left the team. While Frazier would barely be on the two-deeps at DE, the position is already more thin than we've seen it in 15 years at Purdue. As a result some of the tackles are being looked at on the outside in certain packages. Sadly, I've yet to hear anything about Higgs being moved forward to an end...clearly he's not as good of a fit as he seems to be on paper.

-Hope is always upbeat, so it's not out of the ordinary to hear him overly-positive after any practice, let-alone early camp. His early interviews have been on par with the precedent we've all come to expect. He sees the team as being very fast and very physical and is really impressed with the bench press of the defensive linemen- I think he's talked about it, in some form, each day after practice.

-From what it sounds like, Purdue doesn't have a well-rounded TE in the group, but a few guys who can catch, and some others that can block. Specifically, Gabe Holmes has been mentioned multiple days as a guy who is going to make plays with the ball in his hands...that's not surprising if you've kept an eye on him since he was a recruit.

That said, it'll be harder for the offense to fool anybody when the non-hands TEs come in the game until Holmes blocking technique can catch up with his abilities as a receiver.

-Chris Carlino looks like Captain Morgan.

Nothing to be Excited about

When Derek Willis verballed to Painter a few months ago, I had never heard of the kid. When I started looking and finding video of him playing this summer, I thought Painter had found a real diamond and a guy who would be an instant-impact player when he arrived on campus.

But, as we usually do here at BS, we didn't say a whole bunch about it.

And, when he started flaking, we didn't say too much about that either. As Willis started lilting away from Purdue, the message boards and Twitter were ablaze with fans all but begging him to stay and other still cursing him. I don't really care to do either. There's plenty of time to find another good sized kid...and hopefully Painter can find one of similar quality. Regardless, I don't really want a kid on campus that doesn't want to be there...and Willis and his entourage clearly don't want him in West Lafayette. Let's all move on.

There's still a ton of speculation & trepidation about where Gary Harris and AJ Hammonds will end up...and no one really knows at this point...and that frustrates some of those who spend too much time watching the recruiting ticker.

But, neither of these guys jumped too early and were forced to go back on their word. Hopefully one or both decide to play for Matty. Outside of that, I don't have too much to say about them.

Flightless Bird No More?

Hummel was cleared a bit ago to go all-out on the basketball court, but from all counts, it sounds like he's not pushing too hard and is taking his comeback slowly. His Dad said it best- Just as he was given the all-clear, most of his teammates left campus as summer school was over...so even if he wanted to run full court, he couldn't do it with his teammates.

I bet he's been kicking the arse of profs, TAs and townies that find their way into the Co-Rec. Who's got next?

Case in Point: Kyle Molock

You've probably heard us say that we don't get too wrapped up in recruiting, at least publicly on this site. Sure, we'll read about it, talk about players and potential in person...but tend not to jump on stories about 15 and 16 year olds with great vim and vigor in this venue.

Back in November of 2009, a virtually-unknown Sophomore point guard from Ohio committed to playing for Matty and the staff. Some Purdue faithful were shocked, others who had seen video of the up-and-coming, hard-nosed guard thought he was a perfect fit.

Kyle Molock is defensive-minded, smart and tough. Those three things are probably in the top-5 of most-important characteristics for a player under Matt Painter to have. Add a ton of athleticism, a lot of humility and great vision, and you can understand why Painter liked the kid a ton.

But, recruiting services weren't in love with Molock, even before he blew out his knee a year ago...so the three-star athlete's stock has held steady, and maybe even fallen a bit as he's been on the mend. At the same time, Ronnie Johnson's enjoyed a meteoric rise as his recruitment heated up, the lights got brighter and the offers rolled in. Subsequently, he decided he also wanted to play in God's country. So Johnson & Molock were set to come to Mackey in '12 and Scott would be there in '13...all at point guard. PLUS, TJohn and Barlow will both be playing some point guard in the coming seasons...that's a lot of guys wanting to bring the ball up...but only one ball.

So something probably had to give. Maybe Molock thought that since he was the only kid out of Ohio, that he wasn't a great fit. Maybe since his pals were looking at Xavier, Cincy and aOSU, that he wanted to keep playing with them...or maybe he just didn't like the uphill fight he had infront of him coming in behind a couple of guys who would already be established...regardless of the reason, he'll be playing his college ball somewhere outside of West Lafayette.

I don't really cry when this stuff happens and I generally don't celebrate too much when someone decides to come to Purdue either...there are just too many variables before a kid ever suits up in the gold in black to get overly excited. Maybe it's because I'm 35 years old and jaded or maybe it's because I'm a curmudgeon. Regardless of your perspective, I hope we all learn a bit from Kyle Molock's recruitment- that nothing is a sure thing...and stuff happens. Plus, how rock-solid were your decisions before you got your driver's license?? I can't speak for you, but mine were always good and rooted in solid research and a very sound thought process.

On the other side, my gut feeling is that when Painter recruits someone, there's usually a reason for it. A few months ago, I had never heard of Derek Willis. Now, Willis is becoming a summer circuit star...and Matty's probably not surprised. He hasn't missed on many of these guys, if any...and even if a few fans don't like a kid for one reason or another, they were generally courted by Painter's staff because they saw the kid as fulfilling a need.

It's really not our style to rip up a kid who decides to sweat and bleed for our alma mater, so you won't hear us do that here, or at other times (especially if he's on the roster). And if a kid decommits from a verbal, has his own reasons for it and handles himself with class and dignity, we wish him well. That's the case today.

I hope Molock finds a good fit, whether in his home state or elsewhere...but I also hope Purdue beats him if/when the schools cross paths. Good luck, Mr. Molock.

Thursday Gumbo (football and basketball updates and rumors)

If you visit here often, you know we don't like to focus on recruiting, especially recruiting that's a ways off. But, we've had a few requests to take a look at it...and there's been a lot of things rumors circulating, so we thought we'd weigh in. All that said, we still look at so much of this as murky at best- there's not a ton of concrete evidence out there on much of this...and so much is based on hearsay. Regardless of what people theorize, no one can doubt the fact that Painter is pretty brilliant at finding players that are "Purdue guys" and helping them find a role within his system.

Why the hype?
IU received its fifth verbal commitment today for the class of '12 in the form of Indianapolis Lawrence Central product, Jeremy Hollowell. Hollowell said his final four were IU, Purdue, Cincinnati, and Ohio State. The only problem is, Purdue had never offered the highly-rated SF.

Many have prognosticated that Hollowell would push Gary Harris to Bloomington, but I don't see that happening for a couple of reasons. First off, a few sources close to Harris say he still doesn't have a preference. Second, it doesn't seem make a ton of sense for a player of his caliber to be a part of a class that large. That said, he'd be a crown jewel for about any class as he looks to become a McD's AA (based on ranking).

While I don't understand it, Harris has never shown much fondness for Purdue in spite of his Mom being a Purdue alum. If I were to bet (which I wouldn't) I'd guess he's going to Louisville or Ohio State. Hope I'm wrong and he ends up playing for Matty.

According to Painter, Purdue has room for one more player in the already solid class of '12. Another Indianapolis native, Smith-Rivera (#25 in the country) would bolster also bolster the class if he decided to head to West Lafayette.

The Class of '13 is already strong having verbals from Stephens, Smotherman & Scott. I think it'll be either Alex Foster or Zak Irvin who completes the class. Knowing what I know (which isn't a ton), I'm hoping for Foster to pull the trigger first as Painter seems to need a forward with all of the shooters and wings on their way into the program.

Barlow
The more I hear and read, the more I think Barlow is going to be a Boiler next season. I think that's a good thing for everyone involved IF he comes back with his head on straight. A personality like his can be something to rally around as he quickly becomes the enemy in each arena he plays in...or, it can be a detriment as his angst can can piss off teammates especially when directed the wrong way.

If he decides to be great, he will be. If he continues to play dumb basketball (shooting to quickly, making lackadaisical passes and not giving consistent effort) he'll leave Purdue as nothing more than a shoulda, coulda, woulda player. It's really Barlow's choice as to how the rest of this story is written.

Rumors from Ass. Hall
On the Knucklehead Board, there's a term that has become popular- Creaning. Creaning is the act of pushing a player out of his scholarship when he's worn out his welcome for reasons of perception or reality. Capobianco, Roth and Elston have all been rumored among IU fans to be pondering a transfer or just heading out of Bloomington for one reason or another. But recently, Roth decided to apply to IU for grad school, and Elston said he has no desire to leave the Forehead's program. Who knows what will develop as Clappy decides to oversign...but someone or multiple someones might be exiting Ass. Hall for the final time in the next month or so.

Christian Watford is rumored to be unhappy in Bloomington. And while I don't know why that might happen, I can say that I'd love to see him go. Watford is a special player, and along with Hulls, Oladipo, Sheehy and Jones, he'd make a difference at about any program in the nation.

Let's all remember, talent is currently not an issue down there, coaching is.

That isn't stopping IU fans from talking trash...about what's coming two years from now. It's funny, it's been over 1,000 days since IU managed to beat Purdue in basketball, yet many of them manage to chirp like baby birds. No matter.

For those keeping score at home, Crean has now lured three 5-star players to come to IU in the '11 and '12 classes alone. Pretty astounding for any program...but it's especially amazing since Crean has had zero 5-star recruits (in his entire coaching career) prior to these three. I guess all of the recent winning has lured these players to Bloomington? One thing IU's coach can definitely sell right now is potential...things will only get better down there, that's a fact.

Spring Practice
I'm not sure what the feeling is on campus right now, but the feeling and mood from alums regarding the football program isn't "up". Two assistant coaches have been hired and left in the last few months. Keith Smith was denied another year of eligibility. Marve and Bolden are both question marks coming off of major knee injuries (both are being held out of full contact this Spring). The last game in everyone's memory is a loss of the Bucket. The Den of Defensive Ends has no real prospect to fill the sizable shoes of #94, and the cradle of quarterbacks is coming off of a season in which the passing game was really just short of non-existent.

Football is a tough topic right now...but there are a few things to talk about.

The linebacking corps looks strong. Holland, Beckford, Higgs, Carlino and Lucas all return with significant experience. RS Freshman Mike Lee and Joe Gilliam both look strong in the two weeks of practice so far. Armstead Williams will only bolster this strong group...but if he's not needed he will be able to red shirt for development's sake. That said, I don't think he will.

Hope has decided to spread spring practice out, something I've never seen before. But the theory makes sense to me- give new guys a chance to take in all of the info they're given and become comfortable with it instead of just heaping a ton of stuff on their heads in one "dump". The fall will show if this experiment has paid off.

As we've said before, it's not only tough to talk about football because of the mood, but also because the information is all filtered through coaches as no media is allowed into practice with regularity.

What we do know is Justin Kitchens has played a number of positions...recently on offense and seems to be wanted by coaches on both sides as he's impressed. We'll keep an eye on where he lands.

Party Like it's 1989: Boiler Legacy Likes Matty

One of my favorite childhood memories as a Purdue fan is going to Mackey arena in the late-80s in the midst of a huge ice storm to watch the Three Amigos beat Michigan and clinch the Big Ten title. Todd Mitchell, Troy Lewis, Everett Stephens were fun to watch. Mitchell was mean underneath, Lewis was silky smooth and Stephens had quick hands on defense, a lightning-fast first step and could get off the floor in a hurry.

Much like Lil' Boilerdowd has been a Purdue fan since he was old enough to sit up in front of the TV, high school sophomore Kendall Stephens can probably say the same...and I'm glad this one doesn't look like he wants to go anywhere but God's country.

From the video, he seems to be more of a shooter than Dad. He's built a lot like Anthony Johnson at this point, but has a few years to gain a little weight...but, if genetics have much to say about it, he might be fighting an uphill battle. No matter, like his Dad, he's a player.

He was visiting Bruce Weber the other night when one of his other suitors, our Boilers, were in town...I guess he saw in Champaign, what we all saw when we took our days on campus. It's a few years away, but it sounds like Purdue is where he wants to be.

Hale and Lawson Sign Letters of Intent

In not unexpected news, Donnie Hale and Jacob Lawson have signed their letters of intent to be part of the Purdue basketball 2011 class.

Hale, as many of you know, has wanted to be a Boilermaker for a while, even going so far as to sit out this year and delay the start of his college career to have a spot on the roster.

Still no word yet on Amir Williams, though a decision from the four-star big man is expected next week. Williams visited Purdue two weeks ago. Of course, if he does want to come to Purdue, I'm not entirely sure where they'll put him since they appear to be out of scholarships for next season.

Jeff Washburn, incidentally, thinks Purdue basketball has swung and missed with recruiting lately. I guess we shall see.

2011 Class looking Super-Athletic!!

Matty surprises us again with the verbal from Jacob Lawson...if nothing else, EsPN will wanna show Boiler highlights in a few seasons. Lawson chose Purdue over G'Town, Mississippi, Wake and others. He averaged 14.5pts. last season...but more note-worth, 12.5 rebs...and 5.5 blocks!!

See for yourself part of the reason why Matty likes this kid:


Welcome, Mr. Lawson!!

...And you already know this fella:


Purdue Commit Donnie Hale

What will happen in '11? (and Wednesday Gumbo)

The class of 2010 for Matty looks strong on paper as it bolsters both the front and back court. But 2011, in spite of four departures, will be much smaller, probably one or two players at most plus the carry-over of the ultra-athletic PF Donnie Hale who's heading to prep school for the year.

The apple of Painter's eye for about a year has been SF Branden Dawson. I thought he was kind of an open-shut case and would be at Purdue in two years. But the more I read, the less-confident I become. I still think he's a lean for the gold and black, but I was hoping for a verbal this summer. He's not deciding until months from now, it appears, so we'll see.

But this week, Chasson Randle cut his sizable schollie list down to a final three that he's considering and the Purdue coaching staff's hard work has paid off. Randle will be going to Purdue, Stanford and Illinois. A year and one-half ago, or so, he looked like he was coming to Purdue, but his recruitment got quiet as other offers flooded in. I'm glad to see he's still a possibility because I like everything I read about him- good, smart kid who likes to play defense and wins...sounds like a good fit.

If either Randle or Dawson decide to play for Painter (or both) we could see the first McDonald's AA at Purdue in over a decade...but definitely not the last for the next few years. Painter's staff has quite a jump on the subsequent classes.

The really great news about the year 2011 is that it should be the end of Matty's fruitless pursuit of players with the last names Zeller and Plumlee. Granted, both families are talented and all six seemed to have considered playing at Mackey in college (which is good), but the 0-fer will probably be made official in the next few months as Cody Zeller makes his final decision. I think, and hope, Painter has learned when to cut bait from this futile exercise over the past six years.

It Officially Didn't Happen

USC has begun expunging all evidence of Reggie Bush's decorated career from its athletic officies and buildings in L.A. So keep your eyes peeled on ebay as you may soon be able to own a Heisman Trophy of your very own. The university still doesn't know what it'll do with the trophy, but it knows it can't keep it displayed.

In all seriousness, they should probably just send it back to New York...Perhaps Robert Marve's '11 Heisman will actually be a mint-condition, previously-owned model.

Getting It Right

I've been out of town much of the last half month, so I haven't had the chance to post about this, but I think Indy Car did a very good thing when they made their final decision about what the future of the league will look like. The Safety Cell idea leaves developmental details open enough that the cars could look very different from team to team and, of course, their performance will very quite a bit too. This plus the different engine options should make for a very different-looking series come 2012. The real question is, is a car with mostly-closed rear wheels still an open wheel race car?

Making Big Noise

Terone Johnson is the headliner of a stout incoming class in 2010

Matt Painter's recruiting efforts aren't only being noticed by schmoes like us here at BS...but Matty and Co. are getting some publicity for the class of '10 nationally as well. Next year's class is in the top 10 nationally, according to Rivals...That's good news...but, the really bad news is, that very same class is 4th in the Big Ten, according to the same mag. I guess an era similar to the mid-90s in the BT might be just around the corner with the tsunami of talent rushing into the league.

So, as our Boilers improve, so does everyone else around us. No matter...if the talent level is that high and Painter's pulling the strings, it's going to be fun. Anyway, wouldn't you rather have Painter at the helm with the 10th-best class than Matta at the helm of the first-best? I would, especially when I think about the record that aOSU has had lately with guys leaving after their Frosh year...plus, the Buckeyes class is simply large since it has six newcomers...Stability is clearly something being sought in West Lafayette.

Hopefully Matty's found that "golden" range of players that are great, but not the type of kids that want to leave after just one season in West Lafayette. We shall see.

In the Conversation: Basketball Recruiting

Eyeing the future of Purdue basketball

Most of you already know that Matt Painter's a hustler when it comes to recruiting. More than one recruit has noted how Painter seems to be in two places at once and shows up in places that the recruit simply is surprised to see Purdue's coach in attendance.

The class of 2010 has (arguably) 3 top-100 players...one of those who has meteorically-risen to the top-50...even while injured during much of the summer. Things are looking up, it seems, with each minute that passes for the Purdue men's team.

But, I'm really impressed with what's a little bit down the road. The class of 2011 is loaded with talent from the Midwest, specifically the state of Indiana. Painter tends to focus on Indiana and Illinois instead of spreading himself all over the nation.

According the the rivals, Purdue has offers out to 9 of the nation's top-50 players...While I'll take one of those out of the running right away because his last name's Zeller and a couple are heavy leans elsewhere...Purdue is really in the running for 4-or-5 of these players. And honestly, I think they're going to land two of them.

You've heard me say this before- that I don't take stock in a lot the commitment of a 14 or 15 year old. But, these 16 or 17 year olds are taking Coach Painter very seriously and are beginning to see Purdue for what it is- a force in college basketball. Painter's effort isn't a buckshot method that hopes for something to stick- it's a very-focused, close-to-home technique that seems to develop relationships that a lot of these kids gravitate toward.

Last year, Painter spoke of the importance of a Glenn Robinson-type of player who might be able to propel the program to the next level with his immense amount of talent...Don't be surprised if we hear one of these top-25-type of players commit to Painter in the near future...it seems to me like it's almost inevitable at this point. Matty's paving the way.

Wednesday Basketball Gumbo

Terone Johnson
Gold and Black posted a video of Indiana Junior All-Star and 2010 Purdue recruit, Terone Johnson. He's a guy that has a lot of people in the national media pretty impressed. A kind of stronger, quicker Smooge, to put him in current Boiler terms.

Shady Business in Bloomington
For those of you not in the state of Indiana, you might not know a lot about what's going on at Bloomington South High School...well, you've come to the right place for your Southern Indiana High School basketball update. I'm kidding of course, but this is quite note worthy.

^^^^^no connection to Bloomington South Tomfoolery^^^^^

Two Tom Crean targets, one from the state of Illinois, T.J. Bell ('11), and another from Arizona, Matt Carlino ('12), have decided to transfer from their high schools to Bloomington South High School...I know, I know, how will their parents find jobs?? Well, it turns out, Bell's Mom was recently hired away from the women's basketball powerhouse, Eastern Illinois, to be an assistant at IU...And, I'd be willing to bet that there are some IU alums who own businesses down there that are hiring right now, and looking for a guy just like Matt Carlino, even in these tough economic times.

This story, to me, is all kinds of effed-up...but my IU alum friends assure me there's nothing at all unusual about two out-of-state kids, from different states, who happen to be IU recruits, landing in the same high school program, minutes from campus, and this is all completely normal. I guess I'll ignore all logic and go with them on this one.

He must be right...he is after all, an expert
ESPN's Andy Katz likes the Boilers quite a bit according to his recent mid-summer men's college basketball top-25 article. So let's look at who's in front of Purdue in his prediction:

-The always-loaded reigning National Champ Tar Heels, An uber-loaded Villanova team from the greatest conference ever, a Texas team that has a ton of talent (but will disappoint as UT teams usually do), a veteran-laiden MSU squad and the Kansas Jayhawks who return two players that many thought would be shoe-ins as high draft choices.

Purdue's in very good company...and right behind the Boilers, are the squeaky-clean Wildcats.

I think 7-10 is about right, for our Boilers, but most national sources think our Boilers are a bit better than I do, at this point. Regardless, can't wait until basketball season...(not that I'm looking past football season, but come on...)

Hey, I thought delusional talk was reserved for football...
Mike Brey is a a disciple of Coach K, that makes him a jackass, in my book...but he re-affirmed my belief by spouting off in typical UND fashion yesterday-

handsome, smart and a good coach

"If we could play in the Big Ten, maybe that would help us a little bit"

Indeed, coach. Last season, Brey's Irish were completely awesome...ranked high early in the season and boasting of one of the nation's-best players, with a ton of talent returning from a strong '07-'08 season, Brey's boys pooped the bed in '08-'09. But that's not the only story here...UND went 1-2 v. the Big Ten...and their only win came against the 11th-place Indiana Hoosiers. But, they played valiantly as they were in the path of a team of destiny, the National Champ PSU Nittany Lions...at least the Irish can hang their hats on that loss, I guess.

Too bad that turtle neck-wearing worm won't schedule a game or two versus that team in West Lafayette...He could bring Scott, it'd be fun!

Since We're not Journalists...

There's no need for journalistic integrity...so the previous posts (about Matty looking elsewhere & BS getting bought) not being true matter little.

What does matter is that, while UK has officially made its deal with the devil, Purdue basketball remains sturdy and stable.

Matty's going to be back next year, JJ has officially told multiple papers he's returning, Robbie Hummel's back is healing already (according to the Ostrich himself), but Smooge remains quiet as usual. I'm not reading into that much other than maybe he's catching up on the school work he missed while on his 10-day trip around the Northwestern and Southwestern US.

John Hart, the athletic, but unheralded RS Frosh will be a contributing member of the team next season, DJ Byrd's ready to be a Boiler (and has been for months), as are Kelsey Barlow and Patrick Bade...but the story that Jeff Robinson won't make it on campus, because of academics seems to be gaining more and more steam. That would leave Purdue with an open schollie...And it seems Matty has a back-up plan to bring in Croat, college prep product Sandi Marcius. Plus, he's being hyped by his coach, ex-Hoosier Delray Brooks...that can't be positive, can it?

While Nemmy was a solid Slav who contributed in his two seasons on campus, I kind of see this guy more like Chris Reid as Calasan had UK and other schools after him...and Reid was a "throw-in" of sorts with little major-conference interest. I think at this point, unless a player that was a long-term target is available, I'd either offer the schollie to a walk-on as a a one-season agreement OR use it next year for a player that would be a four-year fit...That's just me, though.

Painter's team does need depth at PF and Center, but if he's not going to play, it makes no sense.

Happy April 1st...I'm just glad the weather's nice. One year, when I was living in the Northeast, God played an April fools joke on all those living in Mass by dumping snow on us...I think our jokes were funnier.

Fulfilling needs

Next year, Nemanja Calasan and Chris Reid will ride off into the sunset. It seems that these losses aren't too significant at first blush...Calasan doesn't look like he's going to be an all Big Ten this year and Reid will see little-more than spot duty this year. But, both provide depth under the basket.

While JJ seems to be a budding star, he's going to need help, especially when Nemanja is no longer available. He'll get that help from incoming Freshmen Jeff Robinson and Patrick Bade. Kelsey Barlow, another Forward, may also grow a few more inches, but seems to be more of a finesse player than Bade and Robinson. In my opinion, a player like Butler's Matt Howard (who was almost a Boilermaker) would fit in well...and one of these three might become that type of end-to-end, rebounding-first PF that Painter needs.

The incoming class rounds out quite nicely with the jewel of the bunch, D.J. Byrd. I like Byrd a lot for a lot of reasons...he can create his own shot off of the dribble, he's a good defender and can square up and shoot. But maybe more than that, I really like Byrd because he not only rejected X, UND and IU when he chose Purdue...but from his Sophomore year on, he's really been a big time Purdue cheerleader who has helped Matt Painter's recruiting effort...and he's not even officially a Boiler, until tomorrow (when this class officially signs on).

To learn more about this incoming class from the good folks at Rivals, click here.

I'll be honest, I don't think the class of '09 will be like the class of '07...BUT, '10 is a different story...It just keeps gettin better.

Who do you think will be the Ostrich of this class?
(For the record, I didn't think Hummel would be ready for prime time for a few seasons...I am so SMRT)