Don't recall who I said this to this summer, but the prediction was that Donnie Hale wouldn't make it past Christmas on Purdue's men's basketball team.
The writing was on the wall, as Hale regressed physically - if that seemed possible - and those challenging for the minutes he'd have had a chance to occupy grew more abundant and more talented.
Errick Peck changes things at the 4. Jay Simpson is more of a center, but maybe he factors in there in some capacity, too. Basil Smotherman, if I had to guess, best fits in that positional category, too. And there's always Rapheal Davis, who spent so much time at the position last season, to fall back on.
And there's a certain homebody-ness to Hale that made you figure one day he might head back in that direction even after going through prep school and a redshirt year just to get to Purdue.
(I would be shocked if he's not at Bellarmine, which kept recruiting him all along before he enrolled at Purdue and is just across the river from Hale's New Albany home.)
When Jacob Lawson left in the spring, that was another step to this end. Those two, from afar, seemed attached at the hip.
What does this mean for Purdue?
Well, from a wins and losses standpoint, probably nothing.
It cuts into depth maybe, taking yet another experienced (albeit slightly) player off a roster that now nearly has as many newcomers as returnees.
But I don't think Hale was going to be play much this season. In fact, I know he wasn't. For a player who's always struggled with size and strength, one look at him this summer would have given you the same thought.
It's a shame, that this didn't work out, what with the commitment Hale made just to get to Purdue in the first place, accepting a prep school deployment then a redshirt year.
But things change: Players' situations change and their outlook as players change.
Purdue has recruited good players the past few classes, and while that's happened, guys have been passed over. Those who lacked urgency or whatever else was the issue last season, they're all gone now, by way of natural selection more than anything else.
I don't think Hale got run off. If you're going to do that, why do it now?
This looks to be entirely a situation where the player knew the deal and knew he could presumably be playing for a new school in a matter of days or weeks. Why wait?
That's where the timing makes sense.
Here's hoping Hale does well wherever he goes.
A lower level and a smaller school will be good for him.
This post was edited on 9/27 3:53 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
This post was edited on 9/27 3:58 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
The writing was on the wall, as Hale regressed physically - if that seemed possible - and those challenging for the minutes he'd have had a chance to occupy grew more abundant and more talented.
Errick Peck changes things at the 4. Jay Simpson is more of a center, but maybe he factors in there in some capacity, too. Basil Smotherman, if I had to guess, best fits in that positional category, too. And there's always Rapheal Davis, who spent so much time at the position last season, to fall back on.
And there's a certain homebody-ness to Hale that made you figure one day he might head back in that direction even after going through prep school and a redshirt year just to get to Purdue.
(I would be shocked if he's not at Bellarmine, which kept recruiting him all along before he enrolled at Purdue and is just across the river from Hale's New Albany home.)
When Jacob Lawson left in the spring, that was another step to this end. Those two, from afar, seemed attached at the hip.
What does this mean for Purdue?
Well, from a wins and losses standpoint, probably nothing.
It cuts into depth maybe, taking yet another experienced (albeit slightly) player off a roster that now nearly has as many newcomers as returnees.
But I don't think Hale was going to be play much this season. In fact, I know he wasn't. For a player who's always struggled with size and strength, one look at him this summer would have given you the same thought.
It's a shame, that this didn't work out, what with the commitment Hale made just to get to Purdue in the first place, accepting a prep school deployment then a redshirt year.
But things change: Players' situations change and their outlook as players change.
Purdue has recruited good players the past few classes, and while that's happened, guys have been passed over. Those who lacked urgency or whatever else was the issue last season, they're all gone now, by way of natural selection more than anything else.
I don't think Hale got run off. If you're going to do that, why do it now?
This looks to be entirely a situation where the player knew the deal and knew he could presumably be playing for a new school in a matter of days or weeks. Why wait?
That's where the timing makes sense.
Here's hoping Hale does well wherever he goes.
A lower level and a smaller school will be good for him.
This post was edited on 9/27 3:53 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
This post was edited on 9/27 3:58 PM by Brian_GoldandBlack.com
