Painter to bank last scholarshipYou know times have changed when you actually begin seeing Purdue articles in a Fort Wayne newspaper. A good one on Wednesday by News Sentinel's Pete DiPrimio has Painter saying he will bank the remaining 2006 scholarship in favor of signing a deeper class in 2007. Purdue just chose to bring in Takais Brown as their only spring big man target, but lost the battle for his services to Georgia.
Future Indiana recruits mentioned in the article as interested in Purdue are names we have heard before, including Eshaunte Jones of Fort Wayne, Gary McGhee of Anderson, Robbie Hummel of Valparaiso and JaJuan Johnson of Indianapolis.
Painter also had a couple nice quotes for incoming guards Keaton Grant and Chris Kramer.
On Kramer -- "(Kramer) is going to bring an excitement to Purdue fans. He's a good athlete, he's hard-nosed, he's a high-energy guy who can play multiple positions. He and Keaton will give us a shot in the arm in the backcourt."
On Grant -- "He’s a very competitive kid, a very versatile kid. He can play the point. He can play off the ball. He can defend a lot of people. When I saw how hard he plays and his ability to defend and how he wills his teams to victory, he reminded me of a more athletic Kenny Lowe."
More comments about Painter's search this spring and the outlook for 2006-07 below...
READ MORE: Fort Wayne News Sentinel
Marcus White ends his Purdue career
A player who was definitely a bright spot for the otherwise rough year Purdue had on the court due to multiple injuries, Marcus White has himself fallen just after the sound of the final game buzzer. White has announced he has ended his playing career due to a bulging disc in the lower back. Marcus will receive a medical hardship year and will be on full athletic scholarship during the upcoming season, allowing him to complete his Purdue degree.
2007 lists
A copy of fresh lists have surfaced for two Indiana players looking at Purdue. JaJuan Johnson recently mentioned Wake Forest, Purdue, Xavier, Miami and Southern Cal as being on his list, while AAU teammate Bryan Bouchie is looking at Arizona State, Clemson, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Purdue.
Bouchie, the son of 1979 Mr. Basketball Steve Bouchie, is a 6'8, 215-pound forward from Washington High (IN).
Uchendu in all-star game
Johnathan Uchendu scored two points in Saturday's Kentucky-Ohio All-Star game on 1-for-4 shooting. Team Ohio ran away with the game and won 101-77, yet no one on the floor scored more than 14 points and 23 players scored in the game.
OHIO (101) -- Pogue 2-6 0-2 5, Alridge 3-6 0-0 6, Bardo 0-3 2-4 2, Langhurst 3-8 0-0 9, Davis 3-7 0-1 7, Rase 5-8 2-2 14, Gagal 4-9 0-0 11, Garth 4-6 0-0 9, Clanton 2-5 8-8 12, Waginger 0-1 0-0 0, Guiller 2-2 0-1 4, Thoroughman 4-10 4-6 12, McNight 4-7 2-2 10. Totals 36-78 18-26 101.
KENTUCKY (77) -- Ard 4-10 3-4 11, Allen 3-4 0-0 7, Uchendu 1-4 0-0 2, Mack 3-9 3-4 10, Slaughter 3-9 4-8 10, Miller 0-6 0-0 0, Owens 3-6 0-0 6, Williams 1-5 0-0 3, Smallwood 1-5 0-0 3, Romes 0-0 0-0 0, Crutcher 3-5 0-0 7, Brown 1-5 1-2 3, Wilkerson 1-5 1-4 3, Staed 4-7 1-2 9, Penick 1-3 2-2 77. Totals 29-83 15-26 77.
Three-point goals--Ohio 11-29 (Pogue 1-4, Aldridge 0-1, Langhurst 3-5, Davis 1-3, Rase 2-3, Gagai 3-5, Garth 1-1, Clanton 0-2, Waginger 0-1, Thoroughman 0-4), Kentucky 4-27 (Ard 0-3, Allen 1-1, Mack 1-5, Slaughter 0-3, Miller 0-3, Owens 0-2, Williams 1-3, Smallwood 0-1, Crutcher 1-2, Wilkerson 0-2, Penick 0-2). Rebounds--Ohio 50 (Bardo 7), Assists-- 6 (Two players with 2). Total fouls--Ohio 18, Kentucky 18. Turnovers--Ohio 16, Kentucky 20.