The transfer portal has opened doors for collegiate athletes to maneuver around programs easily. Whether seeking lucrative NIL deals or improved playing opportunities, Purdue looks to capitalize on this new NCAA. In this year’s March Madness tourney, they recently suffered a heartbreaking 62-60 loss against one-seed Houston.
Take a look at the list of players affecting the Boilermakers this offseason.
Players Leaving Purdue
Purdue was the only school in this year’s Sweet Sixteen, and all starters began their careers at the same school. In addition, the Boilermakers only have one senior graduating this offseason, leaving little room for new roster additions.
Caleb Furst
The 6’10 “forward played all four years at Purdue. A reliable player who rarely missed games, he was a solid foundational piece for the Boilermakers’ backcourt. He was named to the Big Ten All-Academic team multiple times, and they’ll miss his leadership and veteran presence.
Players Joining Purdue
Head coach Matt Painter is known for being reluctant to overuse the transfer portal, stating, “It’ll be interesting to see where we go from here, though. There’s no doubt we’ll use the portal; we’re probably not going to use it as much as everybody else.”
Don’t be surprised if Purdue utilizes scholarships for incoming freshmen more than they do transfer recruits.
Oscar Cluff, South Dakota
Cluff started his collegiate career at Washington State before transferring to South Dakota for his sophomore season. The big man averaged 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds while shooting 63.4% from the field this past season for the Jackrabbits.
Cluff had 22 total double-doubles in 30 games played. His services are already being sought out by multiple teams, including Nebraska, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Kentucky, and Indiana. He plans to visit with the Boilermakers this Sunday.
The Transfer Portal’s Impact on Purdue
The immediate impact is unclear as Purdue has been reluctant to use the transfer portal.
While coach Painter suggests, “We’re going to get a guy or two here in the portal in the spring. It’s just kind of the way, in terms of how you recruit and how you go about things,” the Boilermakers have their entire starting five sets to return.
Adding Oscar Cluff can be a big difference-maker for a team barely losing in the Sweet Sixteen. The big man can fill in and amplify the presence of graduating senior center Caleb Furst.
Coach Painter suggests that with the hanging landscape, he’ll be more receptive to the transfer portal moving forward, even though he’s been able to retain most of his players year to year.
“Probably the fact that we’ve been able to keep guys sometimes kind of blows your mind because it’s hard… I don’t think any coaches want to get away from that. But I don’t like it when 200, 300, 400, and 500 kids put their names in the portal and had a scholarship, but now they don’t. What about them?”
Painter has consistently advocated for education, encouraging his players to finish their academic endeavors while playing in his program.
“I think there are some things that you’ve got to look at, some from an educational standpoint. And (we need) to ensure we’re doing everything in our power to help them because a lot gets talked about: OK, these guys haven’t been paid in the past. But education has also put us in some great positions there.”
KEEP READING: Gonzaga Basketball Transfer Portal: Full List of Players Entering and Exiting
Fans in West Lafayette can expect a returning core of Trey Kaufman-Renn, Braden Smith, and Fletcher Loyer. Painter will have his Boilermakers ready to build on the momentum from the 2025 season.
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