Big Ten Basketball: Analyzing each program’s 2019 recruiting class

Purdue is another program that has experienced a ton of success on the court in recent memory without elite-level recruiting classes. Head coach Matt Painter is one of the best in the business with regards to in-game strategy and player development. As a result, the Boilermakers have reached the NCAA Tournament in 11 of the last 13 years. They also managed to make the Elite Eight during this past campaign. Looking ahead to the future, Purdue’s 2019 recruiting class is ranked at No. 58 in the nation behind three commits. It is not a superb group but one that should develop over time with the program.

The most highly-rated of these newcomers is Brandon Newman, an in-state shooting guard ranked at No. 126 in the class. Newman is an absolutely elite sniper from beyond the arc. Although not the best shot-creator off the dribble, there are very few players in the 2020 class that move without the ball better than Newman. He can knock down standstill shots or run off screens to attempt his trifectas. Additionally, he puts in plenty of effort on the defensive end to hold his own in most matchups.

Isaiah Thompson, the brother of former Boilermaker P.J. Thompson, is a lengthy point guard that consistently makes the right play on the court. He is a tad undersized at 6-foot-0 but makes up for this with high basketball IQ and court vision. He was not all that highly-rated out of high school (No. 212), but brings plenty of skill and confidence to the court. If he emerges a legitimate 3-point threat and solid defender, that will greatly improve his impact.

Lastly, Mason Gillis fills out this recruiting class as a very underrated piece. Gillis dealt with injuries throughout his high school career and this led to a significant drop in his recruiting ranking. The 6-foot-6 forward was once regarded as a top-150 prospect but fell all the way to a final spot of No. 219 in the class. If he is able to remain healthy in West Lafayette, Purdue will have received a steal of a commitment. Gillis is physically ready to be a contributor in the Big Ten and can do a little bit of everything on the court.