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potential star? It's gotten to the point now where Purdue's not just hoping Jay Simpson will be a key player this season. It's counting on it. In years past, that might be an unsettling feeling, considering the big man's historically laid-back demeanor, for better and worse, and battles with conditioning and stamina issues. But today, the redshirt freshman believes he's put himself in position to not just play right away, but maybe even star. "I haven't reached my full potential yet," Simpson said, "but I am a totally different person from where I was. I have never been in this good of shape. I'm getting Tom Campbell stronger, faster, smarter and I'm better Coming off a redshirt season, Jay Simpson is confident he can elevate his game significantly in 2013-14. than I have ever been right now." But something has to come out of it. In short, talent has never been the question. Coach Matt Painter and staff have made the message But there have been obstacles. to Simpson clear. The most recent of them was the broken foot he "He always tells me that I have all the talent in the suffered the spring before he enrolled at Purdue. After world, but I just need to produce," Simpson said. "So arriving on campus limited by injury and badly out of this year I am trying to take all he's told me, take that shape, Painter pulled Simpson from the floor after 10 talent and produce." games, hoping to secure the medical redshirt season The talent is considerable, as the 6-foot-10 post is unthe NCAA ultimately granted. commonly skilled for his size. Now, with some experience under his belt, Simpson During Purdue's first preseason scrimmage, Simpre-debuts this season, with big things to come, Purdue son squared up 7-footer A.J. Hammons in the lane and hopes. made a mid-range jumper over him. Moments later, he "I'm just thankful, man," Simpson said. "It's a blessdrained a long jumper from the corner, just inside threeing that I got the redshirt. I can now start off like I would point range. Later in the session, he threw in an eighthave liked to last year." foot hook shot over Hammons' outstretched arms. Purdue's counting on Simpson to play behind HamSimpson's post game offensively is well-refined for a mons at center, maybe alongside him at times if defenplayer his age and he's always shown the ability to pass sive matchups allow. out of the post or face the basket and drive on larger, less Either way, it'll count on him significantly at both mobile big men. ends of the floor. "It's not only the skill level, but the size that goes But, again, Simpson has to prove he's ready to prowith it," said first-year Purdue assistant coach Brandon duce. Brantley, who's coaching the big men. "He can really do "The big thing with him is staying in the best physsome things. He has a great jump shot for a big guy and ical condition possible and just coming to work every he's learning to get, and keep, deep position on the block. day," Brantley said. "He's done that." He passes well out of the post. He has a lot of tools." — Brian Neubert 8 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 2 f