Big Ten Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose | Jul 12, 2023

Mar 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) posts up against Michigan State Spartans guard/forward Branden Dawson (22) and guard Denzel Valentine (45) during the first half in the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

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Big Ten Basketball Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Caleb Swanigan

A 5-star prospect and major stud, Swanigan was a 6’9 forward originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He became a major addition to Purdue and a significant player in Matt Painter’s lineup. He’d depart for the NBA after just two seasons, but he had a pretty big impact in those few years.

Already impactful as a freshman, Swanigan averaged 10.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the Boilermakers, but the real fun came in year two. As a sophomore, he averaged 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds, with decent shooting numbers from all over the court. He had a 32-point effort against Norfolk State and would rack up four different 20-rebound performances on the year. Swanigan also helped take Purdue to a regular season title in the Big Ten, with his career ending in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

Swanigan was the top scorer and rebounder in the Big Ten as a sophomore, meaning it’s no shock that he was named Big Ten Player of the Year. He was also a First Team All-American and considered the best big man in the entire nation. He made enormous contributions in the frontcourt for the Boilermakers and was one of many bigs to succeed in Painter’s system. Sadly, Swanigan died last June, but his memory lives on through his time at Purdue.

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