Purdue target Nojel Eastern will begin working toward decision after July

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. - While Purdue's Class of 2017 recruiting efforts have obviously been largely frontcourt-focused due to the complexion of its roster, the Boilermakers will clearly need some backcourt help, as well, in what should be a large class.

For years now, the central figure in that sense has been Chicago's Nojel Eastern, the versatile 6-foot-5 point guard/combo guard from Evanston High School.

Rivals.com's No. 58 player nationally has held Big Ten offers from the likes of Purdue, Michigan State and Illinois for the long term. Ohio State joined the list in the spring, as did Michigan just this week. These schools, among others - Xavier looks like a significant factor, too - make up the group Eastern will likely start off with when he aims to narrow things in coming weeks.

"After July is over, we've been talking about cutting my list down to five or six," Eastern said. "That's what we're trying to do."

Never one to put any school ahead of any other publicly, Eastern won't soon name favorites. But he will have to at least decide on some after the summer to begin working toward a decision.

He said he may make a few unofficial visits in August, then take his official visits during the school year.

"They're all coming on strong and giving me good knowledge about their schools, trying to get me on their campuses," Eastern said of the schools recruiting him.

"They've all been consistent with me."

Purdue has long been one of them.

"They're just telling me they need a guard and they say I'm a priority for their program," he said. "They keep in close contact with me and send me a lot of updates on their campus, etc. It's good back-and-forth communication."

Boilermaker coaches have worked the early-opportunity angle with Eastern, with their 2017 class due to largely turn their roster over.

"They talk about it all the time, that they need a guard to come in and make plays and play multiple positions," Eastern said. "I think I'm fit for that. They're losing a lot of guys. They need guys to come in and fill those spots. That kind of opportunity is important to me."

The four-star guard hasn't delved too far into the decision-making process yet, but does have an idea on some criteria that'll factor heavily into that decision.

"Academics are really important to me," Eastern said. "And to be given an opportunity to just come in as a freshman and be able to work my way up to a better position. I have to find a place I can call home.

"If I stay all four years, I want to get my degree. I'm going to try to go into sports broadcasting and pursue that."

Prior to last week's Peach Jam, Eastern tried out for the USA Basketball 17-and-under World Championships team in Colorado.

He didn't make the roster, but benefited from the experience profoundly, he said.

"It was great, a great experience even though I didn't make the team," Eastern said. "It gave me more confidence. It didn't tear me down one bit.

"It was crazy. We were really competing out there."

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