Purdue basketball signs 2025 guard Antione West. Will it add to class?

Posted by Admin November 13, 2024 Basketball

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WEST LAFAYETTE – Purdue basketball’s only Class of 2025 commit thus far officially signed his letter of intent Wednesday.

Will Antione West eventually have company? For now, the Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer guard, who committed to the Boilermakers on Oct. 1, is the only player in the class to make his pledge to Matt Painter. The early signing period for basketball players opened Wednesday.

West averaged 20.3 points and 3.8 assists while leading Whitmer to the state semifinals last season. He shot 36.7% from 3-point range last season after hitting 41% as a sophomore.

West projects to join a backcourt that could include two fourth-year starters — Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer — and two current freshmen playing significant minutes in Gicarri Harris and C.J. Cox. Another guard, Jack Benter, is currently redshirting as a freshman.

Others who enter the backcourt mix in more of a wing/small forward role include Myles Colvin, Camden Heide and Brian Waddell. All could remain in the program next season.

West could provide what Harris and Cox have added early this season — a good ballhandler with shooting skills and a scorer’s confidence. He would also be primed for a larger role a year later when both Smith and Loyer have cycled through the program.

While this could end up being a one-man class for Purdue, it remains in the mix for one more prospect. Houston (Texas) St. John’s forward Sebastian Williams-Adams will announce his college choice Sunday. He recently included the Boilermakers with his four finalists, along with Auburn, Oklahoma State and Vanderbilt.

The NCAA recently expanded the men’s basketball scholarship limit from 13 to 15. However, Painter told IndyStar last week he may rarely recruit up to the 15-player limit if he does it at all.