GBI Magazine

m e n ' s b a s k e t b a l l Gold and Black's Men's Lineup The Projected Starters A.J. Hammons 20 C • 7-0 • So. There may not be a player in the Big Ten — and not all that many nationally — who might stand to make a bigger jump from Year 1 to Year 2 than Hammons, whose best moments this past season would have stacked up with nearly any other freshman out there. The issue is consistency, the root cause of that seemingly lying in his preparation, conditioning and maturity level as a player. When the 7-footer grows up some as both a player and person, the sky might be the limit. He certainly holds the potential to be a dominant force at both ends of the floor. It's just up to him now. But don't be surprised at all if he plays at a first-team All-Big Ten level next season. He's more than capable. Terone Johnson 0 G • 6-2 • Sr. The rising senior seems to understand that being the leading scorer on a team with a losing record is sort of a back-handed compliment. His body language this season wasn't always exemplary, but Johnson wants to win more than onlookers might realize. Much will be needed in his final season for that to become reality. He's positioned to again be Purdue's top backcourt scoring option, armed with a jump shot that still needs work but came around late in the season and his long-standing ability to score in the lane or on the occasional post-up, an element of his game that's gone under-utilized. He'll also again be the Boilermakers' perimeter stopper on defense, a role he'll need to be more steady in night-to-night. But most importantly for him might be leadership. As a senior, he should be this team's obvious leader and must conduct himself accordingly. Ronnie Johnson 3 G • 5-10 • So. Like Hammons, Ronnie Johnson showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman while playing through some difficult growing pains, particularly early in the season. With experience now on his side, those bumps in the road should be fewer and further between, as they were toward the end of his rookie campaign. Johnson could soon be one of the finest open-court point guards out there, but his decision-making, command of the offense and overall understanding of his role as facilitator — not to mention the work he puts into his jump shot — are his keys to success moving forward. He's not that far away, already, from being an outstanding college player. Rapheal Davis 35 G/F • 6-5 • So. Question No. 1 for Purdue — or at least one of the first questions — is what to do with Davis, who was so good so often as a freshman, as a guard-type player operating in a forward's role. He was the Boilermakers' 4 man most of the season, a move that helped Purdue on offense while costing it very little on the boards, due to the 6-5 freshman's tenacity, physicality and want-to. Does Davis stay in that role? Or with D.J. Byrd now vacating the wing, does Davis move back to the perimeter while Matt Painter takes another stab at fielding a lineup with more traditional size? Either way, Davis' ability to score and the intangibles he brings to the floor are going to be key elements for Purdue for years to come. Like his classmates, his future is bright. Jay Simpson 32 F • 6-8 • R-Fr. Coming off a season in which he'll presumably be granted a medical redshirt, Simpson now walks into a golden opportunity. One of Purdue's most talented players, as Painter has often called him, the depth chart is there for Simpson to impact profoundly. He'll have a chance to start as a traditional power forward or, at the very least, contribute significantly as a reserve at the forward and center positions. Purdue hopes for big things from the big man who can handle, pass and shoot. But his work ethic must improve and his conditioning — his long-time bout with asthma being part of it — must come a long way. Purdue will count on Simpson. We'll see how comfortable a position that is to be in. The Reserves Donnie Hale 15 F • 6-8 • So. There's no telling at this point where Hale fits in. We don't know yet how Purdue will play philosophically — big or small, in the simplest of terms — and Hale's playing time was predicated so much by matchups as a redshirt freshman. Against bigger front lines, he found some success; against perimeter-oriented 4 men, he struggled to defend. That'll be an emphasis for him now. But most importantly, he needs to become more physical and more aggressive and play and prepare with more urgency if he wants to carve out a long-term niche for himself. It was a rough season for Hale, but the wiry and athletic 6-8 forward does have potential. Travis Carroll 50 C • 6-9 • Sr. With Sandi Marcius departing, Carroll's projected minutes received a bump after he was essentially Purdue's thirdstring center at the end of this season. Jay Simpson could eat up some minutes at the 5 also, but more than likely Carroll now becomes No. 2 behind Hammons. He is what he is: An experienced player who'll try hard and make the occasional jumper, but never wow anyone. At this point in his career, at least, coaches can trust him to do what he's supposed to do and there's definitely some value in that. It'll be difficult to use him against big, physical matchups. But will there be that many of them left in the Big Ten next season? Deep Bench Bryson Scott 12 G • 6-1 • Fr. Purdue needed guard help last season and will once again next season. There are big minutes there for the taking for Scott, who'll project as Purdue's No. 2 point guard while also having the ability to play any backcourt position, at least to some extent. The high-scoring guard is tailor-made for Purdue philosophically. He's as driven a player as you'll find and, defensively, he is flat-out mean, intangibles the Boilermakers need very much right now. But the biggest adjustment for Scott might be the mental parts of the game. He has sometimes gone sideways when things haven't gone his way and the unbelievably emotional player has sometimes let his emotions get the best of him. He will need a cool head, because it's never easy for freshmen. Neal Beshears 30 F • 6-6 • Jr. Basil Smotherman 5 Kendall Stephens 21 F • 6-7 • Fr. After really emerging as a high school senior, the versatile forward is coming of age at the perfect time, looks like. Part of that has been physical maturation — he's 6-7, 225 and an excellent athlete — and part of it has been confidence. This season, Smotherman played like he knows he's good, a major step for him. At Purdue, he will instantly make the Boilermakers longer and more athletic, with versatility enough to play the 4 or wing on offense but guard multiple different positions on defense. Smotherman blew up as a senior and answered all questions about his prospects in the Big Ten, but it's imperative that he keep doing whatever it is that got him to this point. G • 6-5 • Fr. A team that desperately needs shooting is bringing in of the best there is in the high school ranks, as the Boilermaker legacy is flat-out elite. But the fly in the ointment there is that Stephens is coming off shoulder surgery to repair the labrum he tore prior to his senior season. He is expected to be fully recovered in time for his June enrollment, but obviously Purdue will keep its fingers crossed until that day comes. Purdue will continue to look for shooting help among spring recruits also. But long-term, Stephens can be excellent for the Boilermakers. He's as skilled a shooter as Purdue has signed in years, without the limitations many one-trick-pony spot-up shooters come with. Stephen Toyra 11 G • 6-3 • So. — Brian Neubert Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 5

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