Michigan forward claims Purdue offer to end April
Now that April and its two evaluation weekends have concluded, a new wave of Purdue scholarship was bound to go out.
It started Sunday evening, when Matt Painter and his staff offered Grand Rapids, Mich., forward Marcus Bingham Jr., after he enjoyed strong weekends playing for Spiece Indy Heat in both Virginia and Indianapolis.
The 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward has displayed his versatility this spring, as the long, wiry and athletic big man has been been a productive and physical rebounder and shot-blocker, but also shot threes very well. He can handle the ball well for his size and possesses significant potential defensively.
"Maybe (I'll be) a 3 and a stretch 4," Bingham said at this weekend's Nike EYBL session in Westfield, "because I can do a lot of different stuff.I can dribble the ball, shoot the ball and play defense, probably guard any position."
Purdue had been recruiting Bingham for some time.
He visited West Lafayette for Purdue's win over Michigan State this season.
"It was loud. I liked the atmosphere a lot," Bingham said this weekend, prior to getting the offer. "When I walked out of there, I think I had a headache."
Prior to getting the Miami (Ohio) job, Owens went to Grand Rapids Central Catholic toward the end of the season to see Bingham. After Hampton last weekend, both Painter and assistant coach Greg Gary called him. Sunday, Purdue offered.
It's not alone.
Bingham — ranked 104th nationally by Rivals.com — was offered by Washington last week, along with some other programs. Sunday, Xavier and Butler joined Purdue in offering. Michigan State, Indiana, Maryland and Iowa State have been some others who've reached out.
"It's surprised me," Bingham said Saturday, before the new offers, "but I knew coming into (this spring) how I was going to play and that might get a lot of people (interested)."
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