Chris Booker rounded out one of Coach Gene Keady's best-ever recruiting classes Wednesday by verbally committing to Purdue.

The 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward, considered to be one of the top junior college big men in the country, had been leaning heavily to the Boilermakers for several weeks, and Purdue withstood a late charge from Texas Tech and Coach Bob Knight to secure his services.

"Purdue was the best situation for me," Booker said. "That's as simple as I can put it. It's a great opportunity for me to play for a great school with some great players, live in a new place, play for new coaches and meet a lot of new people. Purdue was recruiting me the longest and they really wanted me to be a part of their great tradition. I just felt so comfortable."

As certain as he was about Purdue, Booker held out a couple days before committing, as Knight aggressively recruited him.

"It just came down to me sticking to my guns about leaving Texas," Booker said.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Booker chose Purdue over the Red Raiders, as well as Louisville, Washington State and a host of others. Among the other schools to heavily recruit Booker were Kansas, Illinois, DePaul, Texas, Missouri and Iowa State.

Academically Booker is on track to graduate from TJC in May.

The Tyler Junior College star, a close friend and former JC teammate of Darmetreis Kilgore, completes a recruiting class that may be Purdue's best since Glenn Robinson inked in 1992. Booker joins highly-touted Evansville Mater Dei big man Matt Kiefer, South Holland (Ill.) Thornwood swingman Melvin Buckley and Bridgton (Maine) Academy shooting guard David Teague as Purdue's recruiting class of 2002.

Verbal commitments are non-binding, and college coaches are prohibited from discussing recruits until they've signed. The NCAA's early signing period runs Nov. 14-21.