Purdue freshman to turn heads at Team USA camp.
While the state of Indiana is watching cars go round in circles, the future of Purdue bigs was in Colorado Springs, Colorado as part of USA Basketball’s Junior National U18 Team Training Camp, which began on May 23rd as it prepares to go from 30 invitees to a final roster of 12 players for the Men’s U18 Americup, which will be held June 3-9 in Buenos Aires.
Purdue-bound Daniel Jacobsen has been the best player on the floor for long stretches at USA Basketball so far. Putting a lid on the rim at 7'3 w/mobility and timing. Quick off his feet for finishes. Skillful in the paint. Takes hits and keeps coming. Impressive two day stretch. pic.twitter.com/WiMYSIYssp
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 24, 2024
If early camp reports are to be believed, Purdue commit Daniel Jacobsen will not only make the final roster, but will most likely start, as the 7-3 big man has demonstrated the defensive movement that made him an essential must-have offer for Purdue head coach Matt Painter.
Jacobsen has already survived the first round of cuts and does not look to be at risk of missing the upcoming trip.
Cuts coming later today at USA Basketball U18 training camp.
Pretty clear starting 5 has emerged (in my opinion)
PG: Mikel Brown
SG: Trey McKenney
SF/PF: Nik Khamenia/Derrion Reid
C: Daniel JacobsenBackups:
PGs: Darius Acuff, Jeremiah Fears have both had great moments… pic.twitter.com/q30fJwcs5r
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 25, 2024
Draft Express’ Jonathan Givoney, who has been permitted to watch the camp, has regularly tweeted about Jacobsen’s impact.
Jacobsen is an old-fashioned unicorn. He is a big man who can defend the rim on one end of the floor while stretching it on the other. Jacobsen is just the latest in a long line of Purdue 7+ footers, and his arrival on campus might be highly advantageous for both sides.
Zach Edey graduated from Purdue this year and chose to pursue the NBA Draft rather than spend his fifth year with COVID.
https://twitter.com/joejacksonCBB/status/1788935189525041308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1788935189525041308%7Ctwgr%5Ee5d1b6ab74247c36cedae858fe85234b90795310%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpurdue.rivals.com%2Fnews%2Fpurdue-freshman-to-be-turns-head-at-team-usa-camp
That means two established players, Caleb Furst and Trey Kaufman-Renn, will handle the big man role, but either Will Berg, a 7-2 sophomore, or freshman Jacobsen will need to come up and play significant minutes. Purdue appears to be a team without a natural shot blocker on the roster, so Jacobsen’s defensive ability might win him minutes right away with a successful summer under Painter and big man coach Brandon Brantley. Another true freshman, Raleigh Burgess, will have the opportunity to play with Jacobsen, however one will most likely redshirt due to the lack of minutes available for five bigs.