What Purdue women's basketball's 2024 recruiting class brings to program
Fort Wayne Snider point guard Jordyn Poole headlines the latest signees
Coach Katie Gearlds and her staff took another step in securing more talent for the program during Wednesday’s national signing day.
The Boilermakers added three players from the 2024 class.
• Fort Wayne Snider point guard Jordyn Poole is considered Indiana’s top senior this season and the frontrunner for Miss Basketball. The 5-foot-7 Poole committed to Purdue last spring.
What Poole brings: She’s an electric playmaker at the point guard position and gives the Boilermakers a scoring punch from the perimeter. She’s a strong ballhandler - you can never have enough of those - and will help navigate fullcourt and on-ball pressure. She brings an element of toughness to the defensive end and creates turnovers that lead to points. Poole will be surrounded by more talent next year and in the future and can help raise the level of play around her.
Fun fact: Her great-uncle is Roosevelt Barnes, who played football and basketball for the Boilermakers back in the day. The late Caleb Swanigan, a former standout for Matt Painter’s program, is her cousin.
• Kendall Puryear, a forward from Blue Springs, Missouri, was the first commitment in the 2024 class. She committed in March. She attends Blue Springs High School.
What Puryear brings: One of two post players in the class as Gearlds looks to beef up the inside with more height and strength. She dominated on the block in high school but can expand her game to the mid-range and develop into an effective shooter. The 6-foot-2 Puryear can make an immediate impact since the program is short on post players.
Fun fact: Puryear is a black belt in karate.
Why Greater Lafayette Sports Report exists
• Lana McCarthy joins the program from New Hampshire, where she attends Bedford High School. She’s a forward, adding more size to the interior. She committed in June after visiting West Lafayette in May.
What McCarthy brings: A winning attitude since the 6-foot-4 post player has appeared in eight state championship games in different sports. She can finish around the rim with both hands, step out, and be effective from the 10-to-15-foot range. McCarthy’s size allows her to protect the rim, increasing Purdue’s defensive presence in the paint. Puryear and McCarthy and Mary Ashley Stevenson - a freshman on this year’s team - bring more size and athletic ability to the inside. Purdue will have more options in the future in the post.
Fun fact: Selected New Hampshire Player of the Year in volleyball
• Since Amiyah Reynolds is redshirting this season, the former South Bend Washington standout becomes a member of next year’s freshman class, which should increase its stock nationally.
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