More ($): Everything you need to know about Furst | National perspective

Purdue landed one of its highest-priority and longest-running recruiting targets on Monday, as Caleb Furst has committed to the Boilermakers, becoming their first 2021 pledge.

The Rivals.com four-star big man from Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian committed to Purdue over offers from Michigan State, Virginia, Ohio State, Indiana, Stanford, Louisville, Notre Dame and others, as well as interest from North Carolina and Duke.

"Coach (Matt) Painter did a great job from the start recruiting me and showing me that they wanted me, and being able to see how he's developed big men is a huge plus," Furst said. "And then the family atmosphere with all the players and the coaches, it felt like home, on top of how great the fans Purdue has are."

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Ranked 32nd nationally by Rivals.com in the 2021 class, Furst committed to Purdue years after it was his first major scholarship offer.

The 6-foot-9 Furst took a junior-year official visit to Purdue in late August, then subsequently unofficially visited for the Boilermakers' wins over Virginia, Michigan State and Wisconsin.

"I love Mackey Arena and to me Purdue has the best fans in the country," Furst said. "And then just being able to see the team and the family atmosphere they had before, during and after the games was great."

He also made junior-year official visits to Michigan State and Virginia and a return visit to IU in recent months.

A power forward/center combo with shooting, passing and ball-handling skills to go along with a strong low-post game, Furst was recruited by Purdue primarily as a forward.

"They see me as a stretch 4-type player that can play alongside a bigger big man," Furst said, "and I plan on fully committing to whatever they ask me to do when the time comes."

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