A Scout’s Take: Takeaways from Purdue’s 2023 Overseas Tour
In what is becoming a must for every collegiate basketball program over the past several years, team’s are embarking on summer overseas tours to compete, providing student athletes and coaches with enriching experiences both on and off the court.
Purdue traveled to Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic for a four game, 11 day-trip across Europe with respective matchups against KICKZ IBAM, BG Hessing Leitershofen, SKN St. Polten and BK Bruno. Without Zach Edey due to his participation in the World Cup Qualifiers, Purdue was victorious in all four games. Let’s discuss the biggest takeaways and questions.
Myles Colvin is Purdue’s X-Factor and Best NBA Prospect
The coveted four-star freshman’s first taste of collegiate basketball was a resounding success. After coming off the bench in game one, his impressive play earned a spot in the Matt Painter’s starting lineup over his remaining games, perhaps signaling his role and significance to the team.
Colvin drew attention with his physical tools (6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan), confident 3-point shooting, smooth pullups and transition finishing. Defensively, his activity and length as an off ball defender scream two-way upside as at least a disruptor.
Simply put, his marriage of NBA positional size (maybe slightly under), ball skills and two-way upside fit the qualities NBA evaluators desire for modern wings. Colvin will be a sneaky one-and-done candidate that ranks as my top Purdue prospect.
The Overseas Tour MVP: Braden Smith
Braden Smith was without a doubt Purdue’s MVP. He looked ready to build off an outstanding freshman campaign that saw him start all 35 games as Purdue’s lead guard and post averages of 9.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 37% from three (101 attempts).
Smith thrived operating pick-and-rolls where he created scoring opportunities for himself and teammates from pullup jumpers and touch finishes to drop off, pocket and skip passess. The majority of his reads and decisions were sound, clearly playing with a ton of confidence throughout. It’s evident why he set the Purdue freshman record with 153 assists.
I love when smaller guards are active and smart defenders, just willing to be a pest. That’s exactly what Smith was both on and off the ball. Listed at 6-foot and 175 pounds with limited physical tools, Smith must continue to find ways to provide value as a defender to further convince evaluators of his NBA potential.
Smith will absolutely compete for a spot on one of the All-Big Ten teams.
Will Fletcher Loyer’s Shooting Numbers Improve?
Loyer served as the backcourt mate for Smith, creating an all true freshman backcourt that Purdue relied upon last season through ups and downs. A known shooter, shotmaker and top 100 prospect (84th in the 2022 class per 247Sports composite rankings), he was a double digit scorer as a freshman at 11.7 points per game through some inefficient shooting (36% FG, 32% 3P on 5.2 attempts per game).
His shooting was a bit of a mixed bag throughout the tour, but he shot with confidence and mostly on target. I’m not reading too much into it considering his shooting reputation, the typical freshman year adjustment and a small four game sample size.
Per Cerebro Sports, Loyer is shooting 35% from deep (282 attempts) through 50 games tracked in their database, which includes a 40% mark on 75 attempts during the 2021 Nike EYBL as a member of the Indy Heat 17 and under.
Positive Indicators for Will Berg
Slotted to backup Edey this season, Berg was of course one of the biggest beneficiaries of the opportunity Edey’s overseas tour absence provided. The 7-foot-2, 255 pound big man offered glimpses of his interior presence and mobility as a finisher and shotblocker.
Berg’s performance must be a big boost of confidence for both himself and the staff. These exhibition games were his first return to game action since breaking his foot in a practice late last season, which resulted in surgery and the removal of eight bone spurs.
Only a redshirt freshman, Berg appears to be back on track to becoming Purdue’s next cornerstone 5 man after Edey’s last ride.
Stock Up for Kaufman-Renn
Trey Kaufman-Renn was another young big that capitalized on available minutes left by Edey. He owns an encouraging pairing of post footwork and touch that could provide Purdue with another reliable interior scoring threat besides Edey.
He knocked down a couple of threes, including a corner catch-and-shoot, giving more life to some long-term shooting upside and potential fit to help stretch the floor around Edey. If Kaufman-Renn can become a capable 3-point shooter, he’s bound to generate NBA interest (25% on 20 attempts).
Gillis: An Early Portsmouth Invitational Tournament Candidate?
Mason Gillis seems like an early PIT candidate, especially if he can average close to double figures (6.8 points in 20.5 minutes last season). He connected on multiple threes while making plays with his activity and grit.
Because of his NBA positional size (6-foot-6 and 220 pounds) and career 37% mark from three (245 attempts), there is 3-and-D role value at the next level.
Heide and Waddell Make Compelling Cases for Playing Time
Sophomore Brian Wadell (6-foot-8) and redshirt freshman Camden Heide (6-foot-7) could heavily factor into the rotation with their needed ability to stretch the floor to give Edey space on the block, play multiple positions as tall wing shooters and willingness to do the “little things.” Combined with their functional ball skills and athleticism, their tour outings should have Painter and Boilermaker fans optimistic about their rotation options and future.
Heide had the play of the tour with this one poster dunk. Recovering from a foot injury that caused him to redshirt and miss all of last summer, he appears to be all systems go.
Can Furst Take the Next Step?
Caleb Furst had a solid four game span, doing his best work as a below the rim play finisher, rim runner and rebounder. The hope is that the 6-foot-10 big man can build upon his mini-leap from his freshman to sophomore season to break out as a junior.
With Purdue having several other young bigs and wings who can slide down, there should be healthy competition that can help propel Furst’s leap.
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