Purdue women's basketball report: Assistant coaching change, portal entry, All-Star nod for 2025 signee and more
Staff change, Jayla Smith enters transfer portal, Alaina Harper on why she stepped away and incoming freshman Avery Gordon earns a spot on Indiana All-Star team
Items of interest on this Friday:
• In an offseason of expected change, the Boilermakers will have at least one new assistant next season. Alex Guyton, who spent four years as an assistant coach, is no longer part of Katie Gearlds’ staff, according to sources. Guyton served two seasons as the Director of Women's Basketball Player Development/ Video Coordinator before Gearlds promoted her to assistant coach. Guyton worked primarily with post players, but how Gearlds reorganizes her staff moving forward remains to be seen. The NCAA has allowed staffs to expand, including those responsible for player development, player personnel, etc., giving head coaches flexibility. Gearlds could opt to bring in a veteran coach who doesn’t carry the title of assistant and also hire a coach whose primary focus is player development and recruiting. Before returning to Purdue, Guyton served as an assistant at Eastern Illinois. Guyton was a high school assistant at Carmel and Warren Central. During her four-year career with the Boilermakers, Guyton played in 124 games, averaging 13.4 minutes and 4.5 points.
• Jayla Smith has submitted her name into the transfer portal. Smith has at least one year of eligibility remaining, but the Indianapolis native wasn’t expected to return to the program. She appeared in two games last season and went through Senior Day. The 2021 Indiana Miss Basketball winner appeared in 94 career games with two starts. Smith is the third player from the current roster who is expected to land in the transfer portal, joining Mila and Amiyah Reynolds. Eight players, including six returners, are on the roster before additions from the transfer portal or any other departures.
• Incoming signee Avery Gordon was named to the Indiana All-Star team. The 6-foot-6 center from Brownsburg averaged 20.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks during her senior season. Gordon also recorded 14 double-doubles for the Bulldogs, who finished 19-4. She finished her career with 1,626 points, 816 rebounds, and 227 blocked shots. Gordon is one of two 2025 signees scheduled to join coach Katie Gearlds’ program in the summer. She’ll be on campus following the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star game in June. The Indianapolis Star has the list of the 13 players.
• One omission from the 13-player Indiana All-Star team was Kira Reynolds. She re-opened her recruitment last week after her sisters, Mila and Amiyah, elected to leave the program and enter the transfer portal. Their father, Steven Reynolds, has resigned as girls' basketball coach at South Bend Washington, leading to speculation that the family might be moving. Kira is undoubtedly one of the top players in the state and is worthy of a spot on the Indiana All-Star team. Other players in the past have declined invitations, including Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer.
• News of former Boilermaker Madison Layden submitting her name into the transfer portal surfaced last week. As we reported, Layden has been preparing for a possible return to the Boilermakers. It’s important to emphasize this isn’t a done deal. It’s a process that will take time. Gearlds has a lot of spots to fill on the roster. As part of the House v. NCAA Settlement, women’s basketball roster limits are capped at 15. The settlement is scheduled to be official in early April. Right now, next year’s roster features eight players, but that number is fluid. The 30-day transfer portal window opens on March 25, and Gearlds and her staff have been preparing to capitalize on improving the roster during the offseason. We’ve outlined the needs for next year’s team, including an experienced point guard who is a three-level scorer and can oversee the offense. Purdue could use a few more three-level scorers. Layden would bring some qualities missing from last year’s team, but she can’t be the best player Gearlds adds in the offseason.
• Alaina Harper appeared in three games this season, the final one against Maryland in early December. The transfer from Grand Canyon remained on Purdue’s roster throughout the season. Harper, the younger sister of Caitlyn Harper, posted a message on Instagram on Thursday.
• Names to watch in Indiana’s 2027 and 2028 classes.
2027: Kylah Patterson (Hammond Morton), Lillie Graves (McCutcheon), Hannah Menser (Plainfield), McKenzie Koch (Eastern Hancock), Claire Larrison (Greensburg), Payton DuVall (Franklin Central) and Paige Schnaus (Gibson Southern).
2028: Riley Schellhammer (Fishers), Delany Noll (Homestead), Janaya Cooper (Fort Wayne Snider) and Suzy Perego (Homestead).
The players are part of the All-Star Futures Game on June 2 at Fishers High School.
• Putting the final statistical touches on last season:
We’ve mentioned this late in the season, but it’s now official. The program didn't feature a double-digit scorer for the first time since the 1984-85 season. Destini Lombard averaged 9.9 points in 29 games, and Rashunda Jones averaged 9.8 points. Jones, though, did average 11.6 points in 18 Big Ten games.
No Boilermaker made first, second, third team, or honorable mention Big Ten for the first time since the awards started in 1985.
The Boilermakers allowed 75.3 points, the most since 1982-83 when they gave up 76.7 points in 26 games. Offensively, Purdue averaged 63.4 points, its lowest since the 2014-15 season when it averaged 63.2 points. The Boilermakers have averaged fewer than 70 points in 10 of the last 11 seasons.
Purdue’s final NCAA NET ranking: 141. It’s one tool the selection committee uses to complete the 68-team bracket. The Boilermakers were 0-13 against Quad 1 and 0-5 against Quad 2 teams. Purdue’s NET strength of schedule ranked No. 7 in the nation. The Boilermakers were the only team ranked in the top 10 not to make the NCAA tournament. Look for a soft non-conference schedule next season but the Big Ten remains loaded.
Purdue will bring back 56% of its scoring among the six players scheduled to return. The group also accounted for 48.9% of the rebounding, 43.% of the 3-pointers, 55% of the assists, and 46.9% of the steals.
The Portal— it’s always there looking-—so far we will be all right— Jala will be missed— I wish her well. The big hit this year is the REYNOLDS girl coming in.. —-We spend a lot of time and resources recruiting and she changed her mind— that is life and we will deal with it. This off season their will be changes and time keeps moving on— Too Fast— I know that KG is trying to change the roster— Bigger and Faster and more talented. After watching the NCAA games— everyone has a front line that can compete—we have 2 players that will only get better on the front line— McCarthy and Puryear— and they need some help. WE have some shooters on this team so if we can add the right players to complement them— it could be a game changer— so I am optimistic about the next season. The players that we get from the portal need to be game changers— Every coach is trying to do that so the competition for a player is great— so we will see where it goes—-In my book a player has to have (4) things—number—(1)— have the talent and skill set — (2)— be devoted— A 100 % ‘ER—and (3)— Be a team player and—(4)—love Purdue. —- If we can find a few of these they will lift the whole team up.— so— GO BOILERS !!