By Bryan Gaskins
Purdue University’s Mackey Arena Complex project, which will include a renovation of the arena and the addition of a three-level Student-Athlete Development Center, is under way and scheduled to take three years.
I have an idea for an immediate tweak for Mackey Arena — change the floor design to include an outline of the state of Indiana because Purdue coach Matt Painter is recruiting all parts of the state, from the Region in the northwest and Fort Wayne in the northeast to talent-rich Marion County in the middle and New Albany in the southeast.
Now before IU fans claim my idea infringes on the Hoosiers’ design, I think all of our state-funded schools should have some form of that design on their courts. Indiana State already does and Purdue, Ball State and the others should follow suit to show their state pride. Beyond that, it’s just a good look when a school puts its state outline on its court. North Carolina and Texas come to mind.
However, Painter’s impressive recruiting is my main reason for the proposed change. He is attacking the state in a way that Purdue fans only dreamed about before his arrival.
The Boilers under former coach Gene Keady always fared OK when recruiting the northern part of the state, but Painter’s ability to expand the Boilers’ reach to Indianapolis and points south is a promising harbinger. Once upon a time, Indiana under Bob Knight seemed to control that territory. In more recent times, Indianapolis players often bolted the state.
Now, Purdue is in the picture more and more thanks to Painter’s relentless approach.
He laid the foundation for his program with his 2007 class which featured six players — four from Indiana. Robbie Hummel (Valparaiso), E’Twaun Moore (East Chicago Central) and JaJuan Johnson (Franklin Central) remain from that class. John Hart (Beech Grove) came aboard in ’08.
Purdue is about to receive a massive infusion of Indiana talent over its next two classes. The incoming class offers four players, all from in-state schools — wings Kelsey Barlow (Indianapolis Cathedral) and D.J. Byrd (North Montgomery) and big men Patrick Bade (Franklin Central) and Sandi Marcius (LaPorte LaLumiere by way of Croatia). And the 2010 class features four more players, including three from Indiana — bigs Travis Carroll (Danville) and Donnie Hale (New Albany) and explosive guard Terone Johnson (Indianapolis North Central).
Down the road, Painter has a commitment from Fort Wayne South rising sophomore Rapheal Davis.
Painter is not focused strictly on Indiana. He brought in point guard Lewis Jackson from Decatur, Ill., and guard Ryne Smith from Toledo, Ohio, last season and he will bring in guard Anthony Johnson from Chicago in 2010.
To me, Painter is following a perfect plan. He is recruiting the state from top to bottom and he is adding select players from neighboring states. It’s a simple plan — one that Butler has used to become an NCAA tournament regular. I’d love to see Ball State give it a try.
Now that Tom Crean is settled in at Indiana, there are going to be some interesting back-and-forth battles for top in-state recruits. Crean will show the state outline on the Assembly Hall court is appropriate. Yet right now, Painter is the one who is the most state positive.
• Bryan Gaskins may be reached at bryan.gaskins@ kokomotribune.com or (765) 454-8567.
