After sitting out last season as a redshirt, Antione West Jr. is stepping into a much bigger spotlight for Purdue this year.
The first real test comes Friday, when the Boilermakers open a four-game trip to Canada against Vancouver Select. Purdue will also face Trinity Western College on July 26, the University of Calgary on July 28, and the University of Frasier Valley on July 29.
West said Tuesday that the summer has been about building chemistry and getting comfortable with the group around him.
"Just talking to each other, communicating through things, just learning each other, just learning how to mesh and get the best out of each other."
That connection matters even more now that Purdue is trying to sort through a revamped lineup. West said the fresh faces have made an early impression.
"I feel like they've been pretty good, honestly. They've came along pretty well.
They've kind of learned some things quicker than we thought. And it has helped us a lot being able to have so many guys that can do their job and do it at a high level, which is that's always going to be good."
The Canada trip should give Purdue a chance to see that progress against someone else for the first time this summer. West is looking forward to that change of pace.
"Just the camaraderie. Actually being able to play like different people because we sit here and we go at each other all the time and you obviously you get used to it, but it'll be fun to take that out on somebody else."
As for his own role, West made it clear he expects to be a factor on both ends.
"I see myself just just being a guy honestly. Defensively and offensively, being able to create for myself, create for others, and then just locking down on defense.
Been kind of waiting a year and a half for this, probably longer than that, having to sit last year, just work hard in practice. It's going to feel good.
And it feels good now just knowing what I'm coming into and then just working for it every day in here. Just seeing it unfold in front of me, it's been a good feeling."
Matt Painter sees the talent, but he also knows West’s adjustment will come with a different kind of usage than he has had before.
"He's very, very talented but he's also been a ball dominant guard and he'll have the ball in his hand, but his usage won't be the same. We have a lot of different guys to play with, so you'll see a lot of different combinations.
I think with him, it'll just depend organically him getting into positions where he can break people down, get angles, take shots that come his way. He's a good two-way player.
He's just not an offensive player. He's good on the basketball.
He's got to get better away from the basketball. But, every person I've ever coached is really good on the basketball.
That's their downside is away from the ball."
West arrived at Purdue as a four-star signee in the 2025 recruiting class. In his senior season at Whitmer in Ohio, he put up 18.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, helping lead the team to a 17-8 record and a regional semifinal berth.
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