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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 27 • 19 ters in college basketball, but very likely the best tandem at the position in the game, as the senior will again team with Isaac Haas in the pivot position. Haas, who'd have moved into a lead- ing role had Hammons departed, returns as a sophomore after a freshman season in which he was a revelation, one of the confer- ence's most influential players because of his uncommon physical presence. Though he stood to see his role expand considerably had Hammons left, no one wanted him back next season more than Haas. "I love the dude," Haas said prior to Hammons' announcement. "I can't express things any more than that: I love him. He's a great guy and he's done so much for me and I've done so much for him, getting him kick-started. He's helped me dragging me through the season, helping me find that will within myself to do well." Haas got his wish Saturday, when Ham - mons announced he'd seeing his college eli- gibility through to the end, something that seemed very unlikely when the 7-footer first showed up in the program in 2012. Hammons has been considered a prime NBA prospect since high school, but it wasn't until this past season that he developed con- sistency — and led Purdue to team success — and that step didn't come 'til midseason. "Having a (full) season that way, I think, would really help put him in a better posi- tion," Coach Matt Painter said at the team's postseason banquet Wednesday night. "It's so important, your start, at the next level. You'd like to start in a guaranteed role and start where you're in a rotation. Just being on a team sometimes, it's difficult to stick in the NBA. You don't want to be the first guy out if somebody makes a move or some- thing happens. You want to get in that rota- tion and be able to play major minutes and show people, show your team, your organi- zation and the rest of the league, that you're an NBA player for a long period of time." Hammons relished winning as a junior and quite obviously coexisted well with his newcomer-heavy supporting cast and will obviously want to lead Purdue to even big- ger things as a senior. But he'll also want to help himself, by en- hancing his draft stock and working himself into a guaranteed-contract sort of situation. He's also on pace to graduate in May. "Earning my degree is one of the most important goals that I have for myself and returning to Purdue next year will enable me to reach that," Hammons said in a released statement. "In addition, I feel that our team has a lot of unfinished business to reach next season and I want to be a part of something special. Purdue is an outstanding school with great people and the chance to com - pete for a Big Ten Championship and more is something I want to experience again with my teammates." SCOTT DEPARTS After a frustrating season in which he often fell out of Purdue's playing rotation altogether, guard Bryson Scott elected to transfer. The junior-to-be's departure leaves Purdue with only rising sophomore P.J. Thompson returning to next season's team among point guards, though incoming fresh- man Grant Weatherford may be able to con- tribute at the position and Purdue continues to seek additional reinforcements. Sophomore shooting guard Dakota Mathias believes he can "absolutely" play the position, as well, if needed, he said. Purdue has discussed the possibility with him. Among those known to be interested in Scott, a former high- ly regarded recruit, are Ball State, IPFW and Wisconsin-Green Bay. PRESEASON PROJECTIONS S In his look-ahead Brack- etology, ESPN's Joe Lunardi proj- ects Purdue as a No. 4 seed in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, presum- ably doing so assuming Ham- mons' return. S SI.com put Purdue 19th in its initial 2015-16 top-25 projection. S Purdue earned "Also Con- sidered" mentions from USA To- day and NBC Sports in their early top-25 rankings projections. HAMMONS NAMED MVP At Purdue's postseason ban- quet, Hammons was named the team's Most Valuable Player after leading it in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage. "It wasn't something I expected," Ham- mons said. "I (thought it was going to be) Jon Octeus. He came in and gave us a great year." SHOP THE LATEST IN OFFICIAL PURDUE GEAR CALLING ALL BOILERMAKERS FOLLETT'S PURDUE BOOKSTORES Purdue West - Black & Gold Mine /FollettsPurdueBookstores follettspurdue.com