GBI Magazine

Mathias came to Purdue leaning to the BoilBoilermakers last winter, but a recent offer from ermakers and said following his visit nothing NCAA runner-up Michigan has apparently given has changed, at least not for the worse. him something else to think about. "I think they're in an even better place with During a January interview in Middletown, me than they were before," Mathias said after Edwards said his interest in Purdue is "so high, the visit. "They did a great job with (the visit). I it's ridiculous." really enjoyed it." But he'll look closely at both Big Ten programs Known as a sharp-shooter, Mathias averaged before making a decision prior to his senior seabetter than 25 points per game as a junior. son. Tom Campbell West Virginia, Boston College and a number "Everybody has been saying like, 'Hey, did you Vince Edwards has see Michigan in the championship?' " Edwards of other programs have offered Mathias, while been a long-standButler, Xavier and many others are interested. ing Purdue target told Rivals.com recently. "And you're like, 'Yeah, One of Purdue's long-standing 2014 targets for the Class of 2014 that's big for them, but it doesn't get too big with and will come down me. I still think about Purdue, and just because also comes from Ohio. The Boilermakers were the first major pro- to the Boilermakers they finished not a good season doesn't mean and Michigan. gram to recruit versatile Middletown forward they're not a great school." Vince Edwards and have kept up their interest Edwards, ranked 62nd nationally in the 2014 the past year-plus. class by Rivals.com, would project as a forward who could Edwards has called Purdue his leader through the play in the post or on the wing in a limited capacity. course of the process and very nearly committed to the Purdue is seeking a big man in its 2014 class, also, with Massachusetts' Alec Brennan being a prime target. The 6-9 forward is considered a perimeter-orientKNOWN TARGETS A look at some of the players Purdue has offered or if not ed big man offensively. He holds an offer from Purdue, where his mother attended graduate school. will pursue heavily for its next few recruiting classes. Class of 2014 Brennan, who is ranked No. 139 in his class by Rivals. Name Pos.Height Hometown/School com, also holds offers from Maryland, Vanderbilt and Vince Edwards F 6-7 Middletown, Ohio/Middletown numerous others, with Duke among those showing Alec Brennan F 6-9 Milton, Mass./Milton Academy Trevon Bluiett F 6-6 Indianapolis, Ind./Park Tudor interest. Tyler Ulis G 5-9 Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic Purdue also has an offer out to defensive-oriented Jabari Craig C 6-11 Toronto, Canada/Tucker (Ga.) Canadian center Jabari Craig, a Toronto native playDakota Mathias G/F 6-5 Elida, Ohio/Elida ing high school basketball in Georgia. A number of P.J. Thompson G 5-9 Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf SEC schools are recruiting the 6-11 center, ranked Class of 2015 130th by Rivals.com. Name Pos.Height Hometown/School Purdue has also actively recruited 7-2 Connecticut Hyron Edwards G 5-11 East Chicago, Ind./East Chicago Central Jalen Brunson G 5-11 Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson prep school big man Paschal Chukwu, though he will Jalen Coleman G 6-4 Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral be very highly sought-after on the East Coast. Davon Dillard F 6-6 Gary, Ind./Bowman Academy A need — or at least a desire for help — has surMatt Milon G/F 6-4 Ovideo, Fla./Oviedo faced at point guard for the Boilermakers. Jordan Ash G 6-1 Chicago, Ill./St. Joseph's Glynn Watson G 5-11 Chicago, Ill./St. Joseph's This spring, it offered Tyler Ulis of Chicago James Bolden G 6-2 Covington, Ky./Holmes Heights, Ill., the 5-9 point guard ranked No. 69 in the Evan Boudreaux F 6-7 Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest 2014 class by Rivals.com. He unofficially visited shortly thereafter. Class of 2016 Name Pos.Height Hometown/School "They said at first they weren't going to recruit a Eron Gordon G 6-1 Indianapolis, Ind./North Central point guard in my class. But now they think that they Caleb Swanigan F/C 6-7 Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead need one," Ulis said. Vijay Blackmon G 6-0 Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Luers "They were saying they need another guard who Nai Carlisle G 6-0 West Lafayette, Ind./West Lafayette Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 5com

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