All are combo guards Purdue is recruiting for the 2024 class. All have won their conference championships. With Benter and Catchings already in the class both wings and combo guards both won their conference championships as well. With Edey, Morton, Gillis, and Newman set to exit in 2024. Purdue could take two of the three. But with Flory Bidunga on the table, should they? While this is a good problem to have it gets even more complicated when you factor in 2025 one and done Jalen Haralson. I was recently asked which one I would take. To answer that question, we have to look at what we will have. Loyer, Smith, Heide, Colvin, Catchings, and Benter. Six players for 3 spots. IMO Painter will add just one of them. Colvin will find playing time in 2023 he reclassified up a year. He is a big strong 6'6 wing with more physical abilities than anyone on the team. Colvin will be here 2 years only. Catchings is a one and done talent at 6'8 he is the best option to back up Smith and Furst as well as both wings. He will be on the floor at all times. Jack the backboard slayer is the toughest of them all or at least tied with Colvin. He can play either wing spot I would say 1, 2, and 3 but Catchings is the better option at PG. And we all know some of what Smith and Loyer bring to the table. So, which one would I take? Perry scored 61 points against an inferior team last week. Dayton Forsythe scored 45 points with 12 boards and 11 assists against a school twice their size. Harris won his conference championship scoring 41 points vs the second ranked team in Georgia. Harris is a big strong guard who loves to play defense his game is physical and translates well in the B10. Perry is a scorer not sure his body is B10 ready, but he can score in so many ways. Forsythe is a Braden Smith clone he has a warrior mentally and is simply a winner the best passer of the 3 he makes everyone better a pass first PG who averages 25 per. I would take the first one to commit. If that isn't Forsythe, then I would hope he doesn't go to Nebraska. Jaden Ivey and Carsen Edwards have put Purdue near the top of any combo guards list. Just to complicate thing I am hearing Markus Burton a Notre Dame signee is in play. He will likely win MR. BB edging out Xavier Booker. Even with Brey leaving I am not sure he would pick Purdue a 5'10 point guard competing with Smith?
When I think about the 2024 season, I can't even come up with a starting five. Smith, Loyer, Furst, Colvin seem to be locks. With Kaufman-Renn and Berg sharing time at the 5. But then you leave out Catching whom I believe is one of best players Painter has ever landed. Good problems to have maybe?
