Purdue women's basketball adds Akron transfer Reagan Bass from portal
The three-year standout with the Zips averaged 16.4 points and 9.9 rebounds last season
The rollercoaster ride that has become the transfer portal delivered more good news for the Boilermakers.
Coach Katie Gearlds and her staff secured their second transfer commitment on Friday when Reagan Bass announced her decision. Ella Collier, a two-time NAIA National Player of the Year at Marian University, also committed on Friday.
The addition of Bass is expected to complete Purdue’s transfer acquisitions heading into the 2024-25 season. The Boilermakers added four transfers since the end of the season.
Bass, a three-year standout at Akron, helps fill the void left by the surprise departure of Mary Ashley Stevenson earlier this week and gives Purdue an experienced player in the post that should pay off in the short term. Stevenson’s loss is significant in the long term, but Bass brings the Boilermakers a deeper résumé that has a chance to help immediately.
Purdue was already recruiting the 6-foot-1 Bass before Stevenson’s decision. Bass visited campus two weeks ago but cut the trip short due to academic obligations at Akron. Bass is majoring in civil engineering. She notified Gearlds on Saturday night of her decision to commit but waited until Friday to announce due to final exams at Akron.
On the court, the native of Strongsville, Ohio brings inside production. Last season, she averaged 16.4 points and 9.9 rebounds and was named second-team All-MAC one season after earning first-team All-Conference honors. She led the MAC in rebounding this past season.
Bass has started 84 of 85 career games. Last season, she reached double figures in 24 of 29 games and scored 15 or more points 17 times.
Bass joins a rotation that features Alania Harper, Mila Reynolds, and incoming freshmen Kendall Puryear and Lana McCarthy. Harper and Reynolds played limited minutes last season and Puryear and McCarthy will need to adjust to the college game to give the Boilermakers depth.
Bass will play center and power forward, creating an opening for another post to earn significant minutes.
While Stevenson’s departure took the program by surprise, Bass gives Purdue a bridge to the future. Both of the program’s 2025 commitments - Kira Reynolds and Avery Gordon - will give the Boilermakers athletic ability and size inside to pair with Puryear and McCarthy.
Gearlds added Destini Lombard (Stephen F. Austin) and Mahri Petree (UTEP), along with Collier.
HARRIS UPDATE
Former Ohio State guard Rikki Harris committed to Dayton on Monday. Harris visited Purdue and was on the verge of coming to West Lafayette but elected to stay in the state of Ohio.
2024-25 ROSTER (TENTATIVE)
Seniors: Jayla Smith, Destini Lombard, Mahri Petree, Reagan Bass, Ella Collier
Juniors: Mila Reynolds, Alania Harper
Sophomores: Rashunda Jones, McKenna Layden, Sophie Swanson
Freshmen: Amiyah Reynolds (redshirt), Jordyn Poole, Kendall Puryear, Lana McCarthy.
I'm shocked that Mary Ashley Stevenson hasn't signed anywhere yet (at least not that I've seen). I feel like we have a good squad for next year, but losing MA is a real bummer for the two seasons after that. Hopefully Coach has a good pipeline.