FORT WAYNE — Saturday evening marked the end of my time at the Run 'N Slam in Fort Wayne, and we'll have more stuff and video to come this week, but here's a quick notebook.
Caleb Furst was very good in the final two games today. The 2021 big man and Purdue target is so good around the rim and his teammates — Jaden Ivey among them — did a nice job finding him all day and he did a great job finishing, and Furst is also very good handling the ball in the open floor for his size.
The Blackhawk Christian big man said Notre Dame is among those getting involved after last weekend's spring evaluation period, and that Matt Painter came to see him in an open gym earlier in the week. Painter has been very involved personally in recruiting Furst, and again, the junior-to-be big man said the "family" feel he gets from Purdue is central to his interest in the Boilermakers.
Indy Heat's 17s are out, after falling to the Michigan Wolverines tonight on a late five-point possession, after Kiyron Powell had put them up 52-50 with 55 seconds left with a beautiful baseline drive and finish through traffic, then 54-50 with a dunk off a teammate's steal.
But ... the Wolverines scored an and-one, missed the free throw, got the rebound, and hit a three to win it, knocking out the hosts, but also providing them an extra day's rest prior to next weekend's EYBL in Westfield.
Ivey tweaked his ankle in the game prior and his jumper was a bit off in the finale. I had him for eight points. He had seven the game before, sitting out a good portion of the second half. In the first game today, he scored 19 points. Last night, he had 28.
His role was probably a bit different this weekend than it was last, because of Nijel Pack's absence. With Indy Heat's point guard out, Ivey had the ball in his hands a ton, and did a good job as both a scorer and facilitator.
We'll have more on him in coming days too, but here's last night's video interview.
Trey Galloway is playing well, and intends to use his first official visit on Purdue, in May or June, per his father.
Brandon Brantley swung through his school a few days ago to watch him in open gym, and Purdue recently conducted an in-home visit, too.
Not really pertinent to recruiting yet, but you're going to be hearing a lot in the years to come about Gary West Side's Jalen Washington, whose freshman season was marred by an injury, but whose future is ridiculously promising.
The 2022 prospect is an awesome blend of size and length — he's probably 6-9ish now as a 15-year-old, with an Anthony Davis body in the making — but also very skilled, with shooting range out past the three-point arc and the ability to functionally dribble and pass, and he's a strong-handed rebounder with extension enough to get to balls others can't.
He's just an outstanding prospect, and while you never want to put too much on a kid too early, he has a chance to be elite. By every account, he's a smart, mature kid who takes basketball very seriously, with a solid support structure and 4.0+ GPA.
Purdue's all over it early. It had him on campus for its elite camp, which is about all you can ask for nowadays, now that the NCAA has basically barred schools from hosting unofficial visits from underclassmen.
Anyway, FYI.
The Blackhawk Christian big man said Notre Dame is among those getting involved after last weekend's spring evaluation period, and that Matt Painter came to see him in an open gym earlier in the week. Painter has been very involved personally in recruiting Furst, and again, the junior-to-be big man said the "family" feel he gets from Purdue is central to his interest in the Boilermakers.
But ... the Wolverines scored an and-one, missed the free throw, got the rebound, and hit a three to win it, knocking out the hosts, but also providing them an extra day's rest prior to next weekend's EYBL in Westfield.
Ivey tweaked his ankle in the game prior and his jumper was a bit off in the finale. I had him for eight points. He had seven the game before, sitting out a good portion of the second half. In the first game today, he scored 19 points. Last night, he had 28.
His role was probably a bit different this weekend than it was last, because of Nijel Pack's absence. With Indy Heat's point guard out, Ivey had the ball in his hands a ton, and did a good job as both a scorer and facilitator.
We'll have more on him in coming days too, but here's last night's video interview.
Brandon Brantley swung through his school a few days ago to watch him in open gym, and Purdue recently conducted an in-home visit, too.
The 2022 prospect is an awesome blend of size and length — he's probably 6-9ish now as a 15-year-old, with an Anthony Davis body in the making — but also very skilled, with shooting range out past the three-point arc and the ability to functionally dribble and pass, and he's a strong-handed rebounder with extension enough to get to balls others can't.
He's just an outstanding prospect, and while you never want to put too much on a kid too early, he has a chance to be elite. By every account, he's a smart, mature kid who takes basketball very seriously, with a solid support structure and 4.0+ GPA.
Purdue's all over it early. It had him on campus for its elite camp, which is about all you can ask for nowadays, now that the NCAA has basically barred schools from hosting unofficial visits from underclassmen.
Anyway, FYI.
