NCAA Basketball: Top-25 impact incoming recruiting classes entering 2024-25 season

10. Purdue Boilermakers

2024 marked the year the Boilermakers broke through. Led by two-time NPOY Zach Edey, Purdue went to the national championship game before falling to the mighty UConn Huskies. 

With Zach Edey, recently drafted 9th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, out of the picture, the 2024-2025 Purdue Boilermakers will undoubtedly look different, especially inside the paint.

Although Purdue has pieces to ensure the Boilermakers will (once again) compete for a Big Ten regular-season title, the name to watch out for is incoming 7-foot-3 freshman center Daniel Jacobsen out of Brewster Academy.

Jacobsen had a productive offseason by impressing at the USA U18 National Team training camp, making his role this season even more buzzworthy as Purdue learns to adjust to life without Zach Edey.

Of course, expecting Jacobsen to seamlessly slot in and effectively replace Edey is unrealistic. However, his fit on the 2024-25 Boilermakers’ squad could not be better because Trey Kauffman-Renn, who expects to be an integral frontcourt piece this season, is familiar with playing alongside another big in the starting lineup. 

In addition to Jacobsen, Purdue landed four-star CG Gicarri Harris, who will be a serviceable backup option behind Loyer and Smith, improving the Boilermakers’ depth situation.

Do not expect Purdue to fall out of relevance anytime soon. Even with other pieces expected to take a step forward, their incoming recruiting class can instantly impact the Boilermaker’s success in 2024-25.