Francis Okoro may be nearing decision after Purdue visit
More ($): Intel on Okoro's visit
WESTFIELD — Francis Okoro left Purdue around noon Friday, capping an official visit to the school.
Hours later, he played an hour or so down the road in Westfield, site of the Nike EYBL's second spring session and a focal point for coaches during the NCAA's second and final spring evaluation weekend.
During a short media session following his Bradley Beal Elite team's weekend opener, the four-star, top-50 Class of 2019 big man from Normal, Ill., was asked about the Purdue, which followed an official visit to Oregon, those trips potentially setting the table for him to reclassify into the Class of 2018, though that is yet to become official.
"They made it a point to show me they need me and showed me a lot of love," Okoro said. "It was a really good visit.
"(Matt Painter) was just telling me how he sees me playing on his team and how I can be a big impact (player) for their team, how I can come in and dominate. He's so proud of my game and thinks I can develop and improve."
Part of Purdue's pitch to the 6-foot-9, 225-pounder is its hopes to broaden his skill set to the point he can play power forward, though he's generally regarded now as a center, a similar view that it took with Caleb Swanigan.
"They're actually trying to recruit me as a 4, as a power forward," Okoro said. "They have some 7-footers and a guy who's 6-11.
"I have to have confidence and show the coaches I can really (play forward)."
Oregon, he said, is selling its up-tempo style and how Okoro's ablity to run for his size could fit well into it.
Okoro could be nearing a decision. He said Illinois has talked to him about a visit next weekend, though he didn't specify whether that would be an official visit or unofficial visit before his media session was cut short.
"After that," Okoro said, "I'm thinking about committing."
In Brad Beal Elite's 81-74 win over CIA Bounce of Canada, Okoro finished with 14 points and six rebounds in 17 minutes.
Stay tuned tomorrow for more from Okoro.
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