BOILING OVER: Latest football, basketball recruiting dish and much more

Welcome to “BOILING OVER,” GoldandBlack.com’s weekly information clearinghouse, a spot for assorted bits of Purdue news, analysis and so on and so forth, intended for GoldandBlack.com members and GoldandBlack.com members only.

Please welcome new BOILING OVER sponsor T&W Design and Build, an Indianapolis construction management company since 1968 with proud Purdue graduates that specialize in changing the way customers think about construction.

PURDUE FOOTBALL/RECRUITING

• Big news coming soon from the Boilermaker Alliance. Stay tuned to your social media channels. GoldandBlack.com has had several discussions with executive-level members of BA in recent months as it gears up to take Purdue’s NIL program to the next level.

• Players are continuing to work out. The staff is pleased with the veteran base of talent left behind by Jeff Brohm. Word is that Brohm “built this the right way.” The main foundation and culture is in place. The older guys work hard and like football.

• Do they love ball? That’s one of the main questions Purdue staffers ask when recruiting a player.

• With Pat Fitzgerald out, NCAA rules allow Northwestern players to enter the transfer portal for 30 days. An issue: There are less than two months from the start of the season. How many open scholarships are out there in other programs?

Northwestern has yet to have any players officially enter the portal, though sources tell ESPN that some are considering it. Could Purdue land any? Not likely.

• Northwestern’s 2024 commitments also could start to flee. And some are. The one Wildcat commit Purdue probably could flip if it wanted is Ty Hudkins, a three-star safety from Forest Hills Central High in Grand Rapids, Mich. It’s thought he wanted to come to Purdue but there was no room to add him.

• WR Preston Terrell went through about half of spring football before getting hurt and was unable to return. He has decided to step away from the sport as a medical redshirt. The plan is for him to assist in the weight room. Fellow former WR Broc Thompson continues to be around, helping with recruiting and other things.

• Once Colorado transfer offensive lineman Austin Johnson arrives this month, Purdue will be at 84 scholarships. Purdue would like to keep a scholarship open in case something happens. The open scholarship could go to a current walk-on. Ryan Walters likes to take care of guys here if they work hard and are doing the right thing. Overall, Purdue feels good about where the roster is right now with training camp just a few weeks away.

• As mentioned in this space last week, Findlay, Ohio, 2025 four-star QB Ryan Montgomery will visit July 28. His brother–Luke Montgomery–was one of the top offensive linemen in the country last year, signing with Ohio State. Purdue has seen Montgomery throw a few times already.

• In addition to Montgomery, Purdue is believed to have a couple other quarterbacks slated to come through for visits later this month.

• As we have mentioned, four-star 2024 Ohio TE Tayvion Galloway will visit July 28, when recruits can take unofficial visits July 24-30. Purdue won’t conduct any special events or workouts for visitors. Rather, the visitors will just watch players work out, tour facilities and talk to staffers. Pretty informal. Purdue is positioned well with Galloway, a one-time LSU commit.

• Purdue is always monitoring the portal. Bottom line: If it can add a good player at any position–even if it isn’t a position of need–it will.

• Don’t expect Purdue to land in the top five of 2024 four-star WR Jeremiah McClellan, who will make a reveal on Sunday. But Purdue will stay on him.

• What’s the status of East St. Louis 2024 CB Leontre Bradford? Looks like Missouri vs. Purdue.

• 2024 Kentucky d-lineman Demeco Kennedy could be leaning to Purdue. He’s expected to announce his school in August. And keep an eye on Texas edge Jaylin Jones, another 2024 prospect Purdue is after.

PURDUE BASKETBALL

• As you know, Purdue basketball is renovating its locker rooms and the Wooden Club which is just north of the tunnel to Keady Court. There are also expected to be upgrades to the sound system, which is much needed especially for folks sitting in the lower arena. Purdue will also “dress up” the tunnel where the teams enter Keady Court and the walls from the locker room to the tunnel. All of this is expected to be ready for the 2023-24 season. (AK)

• A couple quick notes/thoughts from Purdue’s pre-Europe practice yesterday …

Will Berg has been cleared for full activity and did practice on Tuesday, but to ease him back in, he’s going every other day for the time being. Matt Painter said he might be able to play in Europe.

• Camden Heide really stood out during the practice. I can’t speak to his know-how at this point, but he physically looks like a starter-caliber kind of guy. He shot catch-and-shoot threes at a pretty strong clip in live drills and made a big-time finish between two guys in a transition drill. I know that’s kind of shallow intel, but it’s what I’ve got. He’s gotten pretty big, looking all of 6-foot-7 and physically mature beyond his years.

Myles Colvin made threes in live drills yesterday, but is obviously going to have a lot to learn defensively, especially.

• With Zach Edey off walking the red carpet, Trey Kaufman-Renn had a great day, I thought, showing a real competitive streak and being pretty productive. Context was a bit warped, though, because as we have told you, TKR is expected to play alongside Edey more this season.

• Brian Waddell has looked great every time I’ve seen him practice this summer. Where he fits in, that’s the more important question. But he looks healthier and more confident than he ever did last season.

• We’ve reported this, too, but to repeat: P.J. Thompson — now allowed to coach on the court, as is Sasha Stefanovic — is running Purdue’s offense. Purdue appears to be double-dipping with assistant coaches Paul Lusk and Terry Johnson on defense for the most part.

PURDUE BASKETBALL RECRUITING

• A bit of analysis on Kanon Catchings‘ move to Overtime Elite: He had a good situation at Brownsburg, good coaches and a good team. It’s not like he needs much more from a developmental perspective. What he can benefit from is maturity and if striking out on his own/getting out of the house hastens along that process — whether it had been OTE or a prep school — that can help him long-term. Like a lot of young people at this stage of their lives, he has to grow up some. There have been so many outbursts, for lack of a better term, so many techs and so much impulsiveness, as Purdue is well aware.

Catchings needs to get bigger and stronger and all that, sure, but the mental part of things is way more important for him right now than anything else.

Here’s video from June, his last games with Brownsburg.

• A bit of intel on Travis Perry: Purdue remains in strong position, best we can tell, with Michigan and Cincinnati in there, too, and Steve Lutz and Western Kentucky gaining some ground. Problem Purdue has is Braden Smith being a four-year starter, most likely, which kind of offsets Purdue’s effective approach that they’re not gonna drop a transfer right on top of him, as others certainly would. Raleigh Burgess has tried to help Purdue with Perry, but the kid and his family don’t need much convincing, we don’t think. They’ve always liked Matt Painter, Paul Lusk, etc.

Purdue is trying to get Perry and Gicarri Harris. Could be a big ask, but not completely unrealistic.

Harris, it’s tough to read who Purdue’s biggest competition there might be. Miami, perhaps. Jim Larranaga did come to see him in Charlotte. They’ll bring a robust bag to the table when the time comes if Miami stays with him, but Harris and Miami (or anyone in the SEC) might put a face on the realities for non-elite high school recruits anymore. Will they put time and effort and money into the No. 75 (or whatever) high school player instead of just buying a 22-year-old in a few months?

Might be a moot point, because Harris seems to be picking up what Purdue’s putting down and coaches have a great relationship with his mother. Between Catchings and Harris, Brandon Brantley’s done a hell of a job with families this cycle.

• The second July evaluation period is this weekend, and Las Vegas seems to be the place to be, for Purdue and others.

After spraining his ankle in Rock Hill, Harris is gonna try to play this weekend in Vegas. That’s where Perry and Burgess will be also.

Trent Sisley and Jalen Haralson, their team’s grassroots schedule is over, but chances are they find their way to Vegas with somebody. Update: Sisley is not playing this weekend.

• A name to keep in mind in 2025: Brady Koehler. He didn’t play much at Cathedral the past two seasons as the Irish were so old and so good, but he’s supposedly playing really well this spring and starting to gain some high-major steam while fielding low- and mid-major offers. He’s kind of a skilled combo forward.

Purdue’s scholarship situation in that class is stifling, but he’ll be on their watch list. (BN)

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