In what Kristy Curry called a "big recruiting day", the area behind the bench for the Michigan game was full of signed and potential future Boilermakers. The list of attendees is said to have included all four Purdue signees for the class of 2005, plus unsigned prospects Amber Harris, Ta'Shia Phillips, Dee Dee Jernigan and Ohio's Myia McCurdy.

McCurdy, who plays for Winton Woods (OH), is averaging 12.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, hitting 42-percent from the field. Last Tuesday, McCurdy had a double-double with 21 points and 17 rebounds.

Crowded frontcourt did not favor Phillips interest

Despite being close friends with Purdue forward Natasha Bogdanova, the recent famine to feast rise in post commitments worked against Purdue in the eyes of Kristen Phillips. Phillips committed to the University of Connecticut following the UCONN/Tennessee matchup this past week.

"It has always been strong," said Terry Phillips of Kristen's interest in the Boilermakers, "due to the fact that a good friend of hers, Natasha Bogdanova plays there now. They talk often on the phone and are a riot to be around."

Kristen's AAU coach, Eddie Rollins, was the assistant coach at Charlotte Christian where Bogdanova played her senior season of high school. Rollins was the one who mentioned Purdue should take a look at Bogdanova after meeting the staff during Purdue's Elite Camp, a camp his daughter was attending. The Rollins connection helped to form the Bogdanova friendship with Phillips.

Seeing a crowd develop at Purdue in the post became a stronger consideration than a friendship from North Carolina, coupled with a decrease in contact from Purdue that left the Phillips wondering if Purdue was interested in another post player.

"As the year has unfolded we have followed the verbal commitments that are coming in to Purdue over the next couple of years," said Terry Phillips, naming off two 6-foot-4 players, one 6-foot-5 and one 6-foot-6. "They have not really sent tons of mail like some of the other major Division I schools."

Other schools continued to show interest, and after visiting for the Connecticut game against Tennessee, Kristen told the UCONN staff she was ready to commit before she left campus.

With two scholarships remaining to offer the class of 2006, the priority still appears to be Dee Dee Jernigan in the role of a slashing combo guard. The remaining scholarship could be banked for use on the class of 2007. Purdue will only have two scholarships to offer that class, one already taken by center Ta'Shia Phillips.

Dee Dee Jernigan at the point?

Quoted recently in the Indianapolis Star, East Chicago head coach Ron Edmonds has Dee Dee Jernigan marked for the point in college.

"I think most people want her at the one," Edmonds told the newspaper. "She has good ball-handling skills and knowledge of the game. She's going to be a tremendous player."

Listed among her suitors were Purdue, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Michigan, Illinois, Arizona and DePaul. Jernigan is averaging 18.5 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game.