Purdue Recruiting Update: July Evaluation Period Preview

While the college basketball offseason might seem to be in a bit of a lull, college coaching staffs will be traveling across the country this July to try and scout and assemble their 2018 recruiting classes.

For the Purdue Boilermakers, the class of 2018 is of particular importance. The Boilermakers will likely start four seniors this season and need a solid 2018 class to continue its run of recent on-the-court success. Luckily, they enter the month with a bit of momentum.

Top 100 power forward/center Trevion Williams committed to the Boilermakers on July 6th and gives the Boilermakers an impressive offensive presence down low. The Michigan big man also possesses great ball handling and passing skills. He will need to drop some weight due to an injury to his foot earlier this year, but it was an important commit to get the Boilermakers started in this class.

With Williams in the fold, Purdue can move on to other targets. Let’s take a look at some of the players the Boilermakers will be following this month around the country.

-Eric Hunter - Combo Guard (No. 96 - Rivals)

Hunter is a 6’3” scorer, and probably is the Boilermakers’ top guard target this July. Like a current Purdue combo guard, Carsen Edwards, Hunter can score off the dribble, driving at the basket, shooting three’s and in the midrange. He will need to bulk up on the next level, but the talent is there for a long, successful career in the Big Ten.

Hunter released a top six on June 25th with Big Ten teams such as Purdue, Nebraska, Ohio State and Minnesota on his list. Xavier and Butler were also present. Expect Purdue’s coaching staff to be heavily invested in seeing most of, if not all, of Hunter’s AAU play this July.

Check out some of his highlights below. Video courtesy of InTheGymHoops.

-Damezi Anderson - Small Forward (No. 101 - Rivals)

Keeping up with the scoring theme, 6’7” four-star wing Damezi Anderson is another top target for Purdue this July as well.

The South Bend, IN native has been on Purdue’s radar for some time. The Boilermakers were the first Power Five offer with additional offers coming later from DePaul, Michigan and Indiana.

With Vincent Edwards and Dakota Mathias departing after this upcoming season, the opportunity is there for Anderson to step in and contribute immediately for Purdue. Class of 2017 wing Aaron Wheeler will factor in to Purdue’s future, but Anderson’s natural ability to score will allow him to find a comfortable niche in Purdue’s motion offense.

It is hard to tell where Anderson is at on his recruitment. Michigan just took a top 100 commitment from Brandon Johns a couple weeks ago, so this could come down to an in-state battle between Purdue and Indiana. If Anderson has a productive spring, expect more offers to come rolling in. Stay tuned on this one and check out some highlights below. Video courtesy of Rivals.

-Emmanuel Dowuona - Center (No. 132 - Rivals)

Purdue needs to add another big man to its 2018 class and is recruiting this 7’0” big man from Ghana the hardest. Emmanuel Dowuona, who plays high school basketball in Miami, has only been playing the sport for a couple of years, but has quickly developed into a shot blocking and rebounding menace.

The Boilermakers offered in October 2016 and are competing against offers from Connecticut, Miami, Rutgers and Georgia Tech.

Dowuona’s offensive skills are still raw, but he has the ability to come in immediately and set screens, catch lobs and handle put backs. His defensive and rebounding skills are his best attributes, and that could earn him minutes immediately in West Lafayette. His fit alongside Trevion Williams, a more offensive minded big, makes for a perfect pairing. Expect Purdue to be in on Dowuona until the very end.

Take a look at some highlights from Dowuona below. Video courtesy of WCS Basketball.

Overall

Purdue’s coaching staff will be all over the country this month trying to assemble its important 2018 recruiting class. Expect the targets above and more to receive prime attention as Purdue looks to turn recent success on the court into recruiting wins with some of the nation’s best players.