WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue men’s basketball head coach Matt Painter has announced that Caleb Swanigan (“Biggie”) has signed his Big Ten tender and joins the Purdue recruiting class of 2015. The Fort Wayne native joins fellow in-state commits Ryan Cline (Carmel) and Grant Weatherford (Tipton) for the upcoming season.
Caleb “Biggie” Swanigan, our No.9 rated senior, becomes the third member of the Purdue recruiting class of 2015.
Just a couple weeks ago Swanigan committed to Michigan State, but changed his mind last week, and had a change of heart, deciding to stay close to home and attend Purdue,
Painter also received a commitment from graduate transfer Johnny Hill (Texas-Arlington) and expects Jacquil Taylor to receive a medical redshirt, making him a redshirt freshman in 2015-16.
Swanigan had a sensational high school career at Homestead High School and will strengthen already one of the nation’s best frontcourts. The 6-9, 260-pound power forward becomes Purdue’s first McDonald’s All-American recruit since Mike Robinson in 1996 and the first Indiana Mr. Basketball to play for Purdue since Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson won the award in 1991.
Swanigan is the 11th Indiana Mr. Basketball to play at Purdue, joining Joe Sexson (1952), Wilson Eison (1955), Dennis Brady (1964), Billy Keller (1965), Rick Mount (1966), Kyle Macy (1975), Dan Palombizio (1981), Troy Lewis (1984), Woody Austin (1988) and Robinson.
It also gives Purdue the top two finishers in this year’s Mr. Basketball race, as Cline finished second in the voting behind Swanigan.
“We are very excited about signing Biggie. He gives us a guy that we feel can dominate at this level in a couple of areas,” Painter said. “He is an outstanding rebounder, a great decision-maker and an overall winner. We are going to need him to score in many different fashions for this team. His ability to play alongside either A.J. (Hammons) or Isaac (Haas) gives us a look that very few have in the country.”
Swanigan’s commitment elevates Purdue’s recruiting class into the Top 25 nationally according to ESPN. Will they crack our final top twenty-five will be decided over the next two weeks…so stay tuned.
One thing is for sure Swanigan gives Purdue a second high quality big on the blocks and will form a formidable trio with 6-11 A.J. Hammons and 7-1 Isaac Haas up front for the Boilermakers next season!
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