Robby Carmody saw both old and new during Purdue official visit
More ($): Emmanuel Dowuona official visit report
During this weekend's official visit to Purdue, Robby Carmody saw much of what he'd seen during his many prior visits to West Lafayette.
But there were some differences this time for the Rivals.com top-100-ranked wing and years-long Boilermaker recruiting target.
Notably, he saw Purdue practice, which he hadn't during his five or so visits.
"It was so much fun, seeing them do a lot of really competitive drills," Carmody said. "I kind of wanted to jump in."
Purdue's clearance to practice all summer due to its upcoming participation in the World University Games in August did afford it the chance to put its two official visitors this weekend — Carmody and center Emmanuel Dowuona — courtside for full-fledged practices, those practices being the introduction to college basketball for the team's three new freshmen.
"It was nice talking to them about what it's been like just getting thrown in the fire, especially since they get the full practices now because they're going to Taipei," Carmody said. "I could talk to them about their experience and how they're handling it."
The player Carmody spent the most time with during the weekend, though, had much more perspective to share than the three rookies who showed up on campus a week ago.
Senior Dakota Mathias was Carmody's host.
"It was great getting to hang out with their guys," Carmody said. "My host was Dakota and all the coaches seem to see me fitting into his kind of role once he's out. It was nice getting to see what he's all about and the rest of the team, as well. It was all a lot of fun."
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And, Purdue put Carmody in front of athletic director Mike Bobinski, known in his profession for his basketball savvy.
"That was really cool. I hadn't met him yet," Carmody said. "We talked for about an hour about everything they're trying to do and how they're trying to do some new things not only in basketball but in every sport.
"He said he's been reading about me, seeing stuff about me, and he said the things I bring to the table as a basketball player and a student would really fit well with what Purdue's about. It would be hard not to agree with him."
Now, Carmody visits Notre Dame next weekend, then Michigan to end the month.
He could then hold his final two official visit to use later this summer or in the fall should he so choose, though he said it is possible that the three June visits could be all he needs and a decision could come before July. That would not seem to be his expectation, just a possibility.
"It just depends on whether I have a lot of confidence in it, then we'd sit down and discuss it with my family," he said. "I'm not trying to rush anything."
Given his unique perspective on the schools under consideration — he's taken more unofficial visits to distant campuses than perhaps any recruit in the country the past few years — Carmody's focus for these official visits has been largely about comfort.
Purdue checked off that box, Carmody said.
"I got the feeling it's a place I'd fit really well at," Carmody said, "a place I could definitely see myself at for four years."
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