Report: Purdue seniors unlikely to exercise extra year of eligibility
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Despite college athletes earning an extra year of eligibility due to the circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter said Wednesday that senior guards Sasha Stefanovic and Eric Hunter may not return to the Boilermakers in 2022-23, according to a report from Brian Neubert at GoldandBlack.com.
It’s unlikely that any of #Purdue’s 2021-2022 seniors would return for their pandemic year in 2022-2023, Matt Painter said Wednesday https://t.co/xRf8i7JUON pic.twitter.com/oASmnT3FIe
— GoldandBlack.com (@GoldandBlackcom) April 14, 2021
Forward Trevion Williams, who will also be a senior next season, declared for the 2021 NBA Draft on Monday but will retain his eligibility with Purdue should he withdraw by July 19.
If Williams returns, Painter said he may look for further opportunities at the professional level after the 2021-22 season.
Stefanovic, Hunter and Williams will all have the option to play an extra year of collegiate basketball — whether it be at Purdue or with another program via the transfer portal.
The Boilermakers have already lost forward Aaron Wheeler, who transferred to St. John's this offseason. And center Emmanuel Dowuona is looking for other opportunities as well.
Related stories on Purdue Basketball
- TREVION WILLIAMS DECLARES FOR NBA DRAFT: Trevion Williams announced Monday he will declare for the NBA Draft. He led the Boilermakers with 15.5 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game last season. CLICK HERE
- COMINGS & GOINGS IN THE BIG TEN TRANSFER PORTAL: As the NCAA transfer portal continues to expand, here's a look at the inside the Big Ten Conference ahead of the 2021-22 college basketball season. CLICK HERE
D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball.