Drew Cabana is still early in high school, but Purdue already sees enough to make a move.
The Chelsea High School guard announced this week that he picked up an offer from the Boilermakers, and the 2029 prospect said the attention from Matt Painter and P.J. Thompson has meant plenty to him. Cabana said the conversations have already gone beyond simple interest and into how he would fit in West Lafayette.
"It really means a lot," Cabana told Purdue Boilermakers On SI. "Growing up in Michigan, I've watched a ton of Big Ten basketball, and Purdue has always been really good."
Cabana, a 6-foot-5 combo guard, started turning heads after his freshman season in Michigan. He put together a strong year at Chelsea, averaging 21.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. That production earned him Michigan Division II All-State second-team honors and an honorable mention spot on MaxPreps.com's Freshman All-American squad.
His stock has kept climbing on the 3SSB circuit with Indy Elite, too. Since June, Cabana has added offers from Ohio, Bowling Green, Rutgers and Purdue.
Even with the Purdue offer in hand, this is still the beginning of the process for the rising sophomore. He does not have a visit to West Lafayette set yet, but he is trying to line one up and hopes to get to campus in the fall.
What Purdue likes is pretty easy to see from the outside. Cabana brings size, shooting and scoring ability, and the staff has talked with him about the way those tools could translate into the Boilermakers’ system. He said the fit has been a major part of the conversation.
"The coaches have talked a lot about how I fit their style," he said. "I feel like I'm pretty versatile and can score on all three levels. I also like a lot of screening action."
Cabana’s game gives him some flexibility on the floor. He could handle spots from one through three, though he would most likely land at the two or three. One part of his game that stands out is how comfortable he is moving without the ball to create open looks.
There is still plenty of runway for him to develop, with three years left at the prep level. Purdue appears to have identified him early, and one trait that likely stood out is his basketball IQ. Cabana said he understands there is still work to do, especially on defense.
"I think I have a good feel for the game," Cabana said. "I try to always make the right read and keep the game simple. I feel like there is always room for me to improve on the defensive side."
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