Purdue Makes Trevor Thompson's Top Three

Virginia Tech transfer Trevor Thompson is down to his top three and the Boilermakers have made the list:

Big Ten rivals Indiana, Ohio State and Purdue are his top three options with a decision planned in the next couple weeks.

Thompson, a 6-foot-11, 210-pound freshman from Indianapolis, would need to sit out next year and have three years of eligibility remaining.

This is good news for Purdue, who would not be able to have him play immediately, but he would be eligible with three years left by the time incoming freshman Isaac Haas would also have three years left. Thompson only averaged 5 points and 4.7 rebounds this year for an awful Virginia Tech team, but he came on late and even had a big 15 point game a Duke late in the season. Thompson is a local kid too, as he played at Ben Davis before going to prep school for a year.

The addition of Thompson would mean added depth behind Haas, especially if A.J. Hammons is gone by the time Thompson is eligible. Few people have Hammons staying all four years, and it is still up in the air if he will be here for three years, even. One thing that makes me hesitant is that coach Painter is often does not play his bigs at the same time, and Thompson is probably more of a traditional four instead of a five like Haas. Painter often likes his fours to be able to spread the floor, with Robbie Hummel being the best example.

Thompson is not a threat from long range at all and only shot 41% from the field. I'd expect him to be in a rotation at the five with Haas, but that is obviously over a year away. You can't teach size and Purdue needs the depth, so Thompson would be a huge get.