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NCAA Basketball: 5 former top-100 recruits set for breakout 2018-19 seasons

By Brian Rauf

WICHITA, KS - MARCH 17: Jordan Poole #2 and Moritz Wagner #13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate Poole's 3-point buzzer beater for a 64-63 win over the Houston Cougars during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
WICHITA, KS - MARCH 17: Jordan Poole #2 and Moritz Wagner #13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate Poole's 3-point buzzer beater for a 64-63 win over the Houston Cougars during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 23: Nojel Eastern #20 of the Purdue Boilermakers grabs the rebound against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 23: Nojel Eastern #20 of the Purdue Boilermakers grabs the rebound against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Nojel Eastern, Purdue

Elsewhere in the Big Ten, Nojel Eastern is ready to step into a much larger role for the Boilermakers as their entire starting lineup sans Carsen Edwards won’t be back.

The No. 69 overall prospect in the 2017 recruiting class opted to test NBA Draft waters this offseason despite playing just over 12 minutes per game as a freshman and averaging a measly 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. So why were NBA teams interested in him?

Athleticism and upside. Eastern is a 6-6, 220-pound guard who can play – and defend – four positions on the court. He has a great feel for the game and is a good passer, often providing a spark for the Boilermakers when he came in off the bench.

His best performance came in one of Purdue’s biggest games of the season against Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament. The Boilermakers lost and looked overwhelmed by Michigan’s athleticism and shooting, but Eastern contributed 11 points and six rebounds in only 18 minutes off the bench. He was able to get to the rim and provided a needed defensive boost.

It’s clear that Edwards will run the show for head coach Matt Painter’s squad next season but Eastern is expected to be their No. 2 guy. If he delivers, Purdue will remain one of the best teams in the Big Ten.

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