School and Year (1997-99) University of Louisville
(1996-97) Frankfort HS, IN
Height and Weight 6'1 170lbs
Position Point Guard
98-99 Ratings Top 200 (ATH)
Academically Eligible Yes
Status Transfer to Purdue (eligible 2000-2001)
Travis Best, a 6'1 guard originally from Frankfort, IN, is a
transfer from the University of Louisville and will have two years
of eligibility remaining at Purdue beginning in the 2000-2001
season.
After two seasons of limited playing opportunities with the
University of Louisville, Best transferred and ended up at Purdue
where Coach Keady agreed to take him as an invited walk-on. Tuition
at Purdue wasn't an issue due to his mother being a Purdue employee.
While Purdue's name briefly came up during his recruitment as a senior in
high school, Tulane was one of the schools that got the most attention
besides Louisville.
As a senior for Frankfort High, Travis averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds
and 6.8 assists, helping Frankfort to an 18-6 record and a trip to the
state regional finals. Best shot 52-percent from the floor, 30-percent from
the perimeter and hit 75-percent of his freethrows. During his high school
career, Travis became Frankfort's career leader in assists and steals, and
his 1.463 career points placed him third on the school's all-time scoring
list. Best was an Indiana All-Star, an honorable mention Street & Smith
All-American, named to the Associated Press All-State second team, and
was part of a 17-under national championship AAU squad.
What Travis is expected to bring to the Purdue program is a great work
ethic, and a desire to hit the weights (something the program has lacked
this past year). His quickness and experience should get him playing time
past his redshirt season.
For a scouting report, here's Jim Reamer who coached Travis in AAU play
earlier in his high school career..."Travis was considered a big point
guard in high school. For Indiana, kids who are 6'2" - 6'3" in high
school usually end up at the small forward spot. Travis played point
his final two years at Frankfort, and he did it very successfully. Pretty
much a winner wherever he has played, Travis is an outstanding ball defender,
whose gambling style off the ball can be taken or left depending on the
coach. Regardless, he is very coachable, and he can adapt his game, focus
and energies to whatever a coach may want. On the offensive end, he has
worked hard to get over the stigma that he is not a good shooter. In fact,
he is a good shooter, whose only knock in high school was that he thumbed
his shot. Those days may be gone, as Travis has shown the range and the
consistency to be a threat from the outside. His court awareness and vision
has always been stronger in transition than they have been in the half
court, but a patient coach will learn that Travis learns his teammates.
As he becomes comfortable with his teammates, his timing improves as he
learns when and where they want the ball. He is a very unselfish player,
who has a relentless work ethic, and after his red-shirt year, he will
push for playing time on the BoilerMaker squad."
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