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 No.1 seed Houston.
Take a look at the list of players affecting the Boilermakers this offseason.
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.
C Oscar Cluff, South Dakota
The 6’11” Australian has committed to Purdue after his 2024-25 season at South Dakota State on April 1, 2025. He averaged 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds while shooting 63.4% from the field in 2024-25. A First Team All-Summit League selection, Cluff recorded 22 double-doubles in 30 games after spending his freshman year at Washington State.
Cluff addresses Purdue’s rebounding struggles, which were evident in their 62-60 Sweet 16 loss to Houston. He’ll complement Trey Kaufman-Renn and Daniel Jacobsen in a frontcourt that needed reinforcement after Edey’s departure prior to the 2024-25 season.
Players Leaving Purdue
F Brian Waddell
The 6’8″ forward played in 14 games while averaging 1.1 points and 0.7 rebounds in 4.0 minutes. A former walk-on who earned a scholarship, Waddell entered the portal on March 29, 2025, seeking more opportunities and remains uncommitted as of yet.
C Will Berg
The 7’2″ center appeared in 14 games while averaging 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds with only a few minutes per game. A fan favorite for his size and effort, Berg entered the portal on March 30 after four years to find a larger role and remains uncommitted as of yet.
G/F Myles Colvin
The 6’5″ wing averaged 5.4 points and 2.0 rebounds and also shot 41.4% from three across 36 games. A four-star recruit from Indianapolis (No. 98 nationally in 2023 per 247Sports), Colvin entered the portal on March 31 and committed to Wake Forest on April 7, 2025.
F Camden Heide
The 6’7″ forward averaged nearly 4.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 18.4 minutes across 36 games with eight starts. Heide shot 49.1% from the field and 39.2% from three, shining in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, where he averaged 8.3 points and 5.6 rebounds. He entered the portal on April 2 and committed to Texas Longhorns on April 4.
Key Returning Players and Newcomers
The Boilermakers are still strong, with Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer handling the backcourt. Trey Kaufman-Renn and Daniel Jacobsen provide frontcourt stability alongside incoming transfer Oscar Cluff.
Purdue’s No. 4-ranked 2025 recruiting class includes Jack Benter, Indiana’s all-time high school scoring leader with 2,549 points, along with promising talents Raleigh Burgess, Kanon Catchings, and Gicarri Harris.
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?”
KEEP READING: Gonzaga Basketball Transfer Portal: Full List of Players Entering and Exiting
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.”
With the transfer portal closing on April 22, Painter may still add another player to complete this blend of veterans, transfers, and freshmen.
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