7/30 Purdue Boilermakers 2017 Recruiting Update

Yes it's early in the process, but this shouldn't stop the excitement for the Purdue Boilermakers. It's a good time to be associated with Purdue basketball and after the week of recruiting news, they're continuing to build their pool of talented prospects.

The recruits obviously control their own destiny on the decision where they decide to play college basketball, but head coach Matt Painter and his staff must notice how good this 2017 recruiting class could be if correctly handled.

Two ESPN 100 players, Malik Williams and Kyle Young, both respectively cut their list of schools during the past week with the Boilermakers making the cut for each player.

Williams is a massive prospect and not just because of the No. 42 ESPN 100 ranking, which could potentially rise during his senior year, but he's another big-man on Painter's radar who stands at 6-foot-11.

The Fort Wayne, Indiana product is just one of a few Indiana prospects who've shown interest in Purdue or vice versa, but he's officially cut his list to eight schools via Twitter which is great news for Purdue during a usually quiet time in recruiting.

#Elite8 pic.twitter.com/tGadqsISMq

— Malik Williams (@leek_willi34) July 25, 2016

Along with Purdue, he has other notable schools on his list like Michigan State, Georgetown, Louisville, Indiana and UCLA.

Most can agree we're not surprised anymore by Painter's ability to lure in dynamic front-court players who happen to flourish in his program and if he's able to close this deal then he can add to that list.

The No. 85 ranked ESPN 100 player Kyle Young also reduced his list via Twitter to five schools with three programs being in the Big Ten.

Young is a versatile forward from Massillion, Ohio. Ohio State is one of the other schools who also made the cut and history has shown Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta persistence in terms of winning recruiting in the state of Ohio.

The other schools are Michigan, Butler and Clemson.

A couple of players who are recently on Purdue's radar are Savion Flagg and Jacob Epperson who've received offers from the school.

Flagg is a 6-foot-7 forward who's climbed the 2017 recruiting charts in the past year or so. He's the No. 67 ranked player on the ESPN 100.

The 6-foot-11 Epperson is another prospect on the rise despite being an unranked unknown from Australia. He earned a scholarship to play at one of Indiana's most prominent high schools, which will give him more exposure.

Boilermakers junior center Issac Haas is the only player on the roster above 6-foot-11, so the recruitment of a relatively unknown like Epperson could assist in the lack of depth with size..

Last season we saw how depth with size works when Painter showcased A.J. Hammons, Caleb Swanigan and Haas, so an Epperson signing couldn't hurt.

Also, be aware of the other more known recruits like Jordan Goodwin, Theo John, Nojel Eastern and Xavier Tillman.

With the news of Williams and Young keeping Purdue on their short lists, this could potentially become a strong 2017 recruiting class and eventually begin a new era in Mackey Arena.