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62 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 5 f Jon McKeeman 2 G • 6-1 • Jr. Stephen Toyra 11 G • 6-3 • Jr. — Brian Neubert m e n ' s b a s k e t b a l l Vince Edwards 12 F • 6-7 • Fr. Edwards fits Purdue's mold for the skilled 4-man Matt Painter has long coveted in his front court, a 6-7 forward with guard skills who's rugged enough to rebound but versatile enough to handle the ball, pass and shoot from the perimeter. Purdue will want to spread the floor on offense, and Edwards' skill set would seem to jibe nicely with such a game plan. Isaac Haas 44 C • 7-2 • Fr. The gigantic freshman gives Purdue a rare physical presence, standing north of 7-foot and in the neighborhood of 275 pounds. The entire Big Ten will be looking up at him for the duration of his college career. It might take him some time, though, to catch up to the speed of the college game. But it also might help him to some degree to play against more similarly sized opponents, as opposed to the crowding and actual physical abuse that came with being defended solely by much smaller play- ers in high school. Practicing for a season against Hammons might help both parties. Dakota Mathias 31 G • 6-5 • Fr. The freshman's shooting and passing will be welcomed additions to the Boilermakers' mix, but his dedication and work ethic will be equally so. As Purdue's coaches half-joked after sign- ing him in the fall, "We could use him now." Now, they get him, and he'll have a chance to help them offensively, though Big Ten perimeter defense will present some real challenges. Rapheal Davis 35 G • 6-5 • Jr. Purdue needs leadership next season and, maybe above all else, that's what it will require from Davis, a returning cap- tain and one of just two return- ing scholarship upperclass- men. After a slow start to this past season, Davis played his best basketball during the back half of the Big Ten schedule. If he can find a comfort zone in Purdue's lineup from the jump next season, he can be a very productive player in addition to a leader. A.J. Hammons 20 C • 7-0 • Jr. The center's decision to return for his junior season was critical for Purdue, as the big man's presence will give the young and otherwise sometimes-undermanned Boilermakers a chance against just about anybody. But that's if Hammons makes a bigger jump between Year 2 and Year 3 than he did between Year 1 and Year 2. That is a signifi- cant if, but certainly a reason- able expectation for a player who now knows exactly where he stands in the NBA's eyes, for however much of a driving force that will be for him. Kendall Stephens 21 G • 6-6 • So. There might not be a player on Purdue's roster that stands to make a bigger jump this off- season than the sophomore shooter, by virtue of his health as much as anything. This summer will be Stephens' first chance in more than a year to really put time into improving his strength and conditioning, key components to the promis- ing youngster's development. Even while he was injured and fatigued as a freshman, he was a better all-around player at the end of the year than he was at the start of it. That was a very encouraging sign. Bryson Scott 1 G • 6-1 • So. The ultra-am- bitious young player wants the spotlight and wants the ball in his hands. He'll almost cer- tainly have both next season, with Purdue's point guard situation up in the air after Ronnie Johnson transferred. Acclimating to a traditional point guard style of play has not been an easy one for Scott, but it's a transition he's determined to make. Time will tell. He has always been a scorer. There's no rule against point guards looking to score, but Purdue needs sound deci- sion-making from that position above everything else. Basil Smotherman 5 F • 6-5 • So. Purdue's best athlete, Smotherman will be needed as a sophomore most of all to be active around the rim and in the open floor. His skills are starting to show up — you saw his mid-range jumper start to click late in the season and he can make a spot-up three — but the Boilermakers still need him to rebound, finish around the basket and get out in tran- sition. The more active he is, the more value his athleticism has. Gold and Black's Men's Hoops Lineup The Starters Neal Beshears 30 F • 6-7 • Sr. Anfernee Brown 24 G • 6-1 • So. The Reserves The Deep Bench JacQuil Taylor 23 F/C • 6-9 • Fr. The athletic and wiry big man was disappointed in his senior season of high school, after the residual effects of a severe foot injury his junior season lingered. Between that and the fact that he looks like more of a long-range prospect anyway, the academic-oriented big man seems like a prime redshirt can- didate, at least on paper. P.J. Thompson 3 G • 5-10 • Fr. The spring recruit will be needed to come in and help in some capacity as Purdue transitions to new personnel at point guard, the reason the Boilermakers signed Thompson after years of recruiting him. The timing worked out for both sides. He's small, but tough, charismatic and a positive, leader- ship-oriented personality who should fit in well from an intangible standpoint if nothing else.