Purdue's search for size isn't necessarily a one-man pursuit
Breakdown ($): 2020 recruiting for Purdue | Five Questions | GoldandBlack.com event coverage hub
Obviously, size is Purdue's priority for its third and (likely) last open scholarship for the Class of 2020, and obviously, blue-chip center Hunter Dickinson (update) stands tallest in more ways than one in that pursuit.
But this is not a one-or-none sort of situation for Purdue now that it has guards Jaden Ivey and Ethan Morton occupying two of its three projected vacancies.
The possibility certainly exists — and it's early enough in the calendar year and recruiting cycle alike that no possibilities should be dismissed — that Purdue takes a forward, with long-established target Ben Carlson remaining on the market, to name one.
But in terms of Purdue's pursuit of pure size, of a center, there are names out there to continue to be recruited, one probably most notably — Kiyron Powell.
The Evansville Bosse big man is generally listed as a forward, but projects as a center at the college level, being 6-foot-10 and with a game that jibes better with that position.
He's tall, long, athletic, a defensive force, skilled enough to shoot jump shots and drive the ball and improving rapidly, especially offensively. His physical characteristics and skill set alike compare favorably to JaJuan Johnson at the same age, a comparison he relishes.
Xavier, Georgetown and Houston are among those who have offered Powell, and there will probably be many more to come, but he seems to be particularly interested in Purdue, about which he talked this weekend of how much he's looking forward to announcing a Boilermaker offer on Twitter.
"That would be one of the best days," Powell said, in part.
Purdue is seriously recruiting Powell, has been for some time, having made a number of not-so-short trips to Evansville to see him. Boilermaker coaches followed his every move during the spring evaluation period/weekend, as he's a grassroots teammate of Ivey and 2021 target Caleb Furst.
Powell will be back at Purdue in June for the program's team camp early in the month, he said.
"I'm a big fan," the highly charismatic and personable Powell said of Purdue. "... It's like a family, and that's what I need at the next level."
The wide-bodied Cleveland native now plays with Powell (and Purdue 2021 big man target Caleb Furst) for Indy Heat.
Purdue's not offered Hugley yet, but has been watching him for more than a year.
"I talk to them a little bit," Hugley said. "They tell me to just keep playing the way I'm playing."
Coaches seem to like Hugley's effort level, and of course, the 240-pounder's size.
"I feel like I'm bigger than most players," Hugley said, "so I can just kind of bully them."
He's been a popular man the past few weeks, fielding offers from Florida, Florida State, Iowa, VCU and a number of others to go along with existing offers from Kansas State, Pittsburgh and others.
The St. Louis big man and Rivals150 member is hearing from Purdue.
"I'm trying to figure out a time when I can come visit there," Kalkbrenner said. "They think I might be a good fit and I know they've done a good job with some bigs that they've had."
The narrow, but long and mobile, center listed Cincinnati, Virginia Tech and Ohio State as three schools he's hearing frequently from, but his list of standing offers in addition is a long one, including Illinois, Creighton, Xavier and others.
"Defense is what I take pride in," Kalkbrenner said. "I like to block shots, and on my good days, I can go out on the perimeter and on the inside, get rebounds and just do what I can to try to help my team win."
The quickly emerging 7-footer saw things pick up for him after the spring evaluation period, drawing offers from Xavier and Creighton, among others, as well as upped interest from Michigan State and Michigan.
Purdue hadn't reached out yet, as of this weekend, Nicholson said, but he's profiling as a player any Big Ten program looking for a center might get involved with.
"Coaches like how hard I play," said Nicholson, who averaged 15 points, 14 rebounds and around five blocks as a junior, "and how I play defense and rebound."
Coles — a Grant Williams or Bonzi Colson sort of undersized, but wide-bodied and highly skilled sort of 5 — has fielded some measure of interest from Purdue for some time now, but hasn't seemed like a front-burner sort of target for the Boilermakers.
But Purdue will still have July to take a long look should it so desire.
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