Purdue’s run of first-team All-Big Ten talent has been one of the program’s defining constants, and the Boilermakers are staring at another season where someone has to step into that spotlight.
Over the last 11 years, Purdue has landed at least one first-team All-Big Ten selection in 10 of them. Since 2016 alone, eight different Boilermakers have reached that level. In 2026, Braden Smith was the program’s lone first-team pick, and with Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer now gone, the question shifts to who keeps the streak alive in 2026-27.
The strongest bet is Camden Cox. He’s the only returning starter from the last two seasons, and he already gave Purdue 8.5 points per game while shooting 45.7% from the floor.
With the offense losing Smith, Kaufman-Renn and Loyer, Cox is positioned for a much bigger scoring load in his junior year. He’ll still be asked to handle the toughest defensive assignment on the other side, too.
Cox has already flashed the kind of ceiling that gets attention. As a freshman, he buried three straight triples in less than a minute against second-ranked Alabama.
Then in his sophomore season, he put up 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting in a road win over Northwester. Purdue has leaned on him as a steady source of offense when others have been cold, and if his usage jumps the way it should, his scoring average could rise with it.
Jacobsen is another name worth watching, especially with Matt Painter already stressing how important a leap from the center would be. Purdue has a history of big men making that kind of second-year jump, and Jacobsen is now expected to start at center after a first full college season spent adjusting to the added weight and the demands of a backup role.
He gives Purdue a lob threat and can also work in the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop game. For him to get into first-team territory, though, the next step has to come on the glass and as a rim protector. He’ll need to get stronger, play more physically, and become a more efficient shot-blocker if he’s going to turn into the kind of force Purdue needs inside.
Mayer is set to take on a much larger role with Smith gone, and the ball should be in his hands far more often. He spent his first college season splitting time between the one and the two, but point guard is his natural spot. There’s real breakout potential there.
He doesn’t pass exactly like Smith did, but he does have strong vision, and that remains one of his best traits. Mayer is aggressive with the ball and comfortable creating his own shot, which matters because Purdue is likely to lean on him as one of its top three scoring options. He can score off the dribble and also move without the ball, which makes him a difficult cover.
Then there’s Pierce, the wild card in the mix and maybe the most intriguing one. He was the 2023-24 Ivy League Player of the Year, didn’t win it again the next season, and then missed all of 2025-26. Purdue sees him as a scoring option and rebounder at the four, and he brings athleticism, a high basketball IQ, a strong motor and a versatile offensive game.
The big question is whether that Ivy League success carries over to the Big Ten. The other issue is stamina after being away from the game for more than a year. Even with the talent, it may take time before he can handle extended minutes.
Purdue’s streak is built on this kind of player development, and the next first-team name could come from any of these four.
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Marques Easley arrived at Purdue with the kind of profile that tends to make offensive line coaches stop and take notice. The former Georgia guard transferred in for the 2025 season after seeing action in two games for the Bulldogs in 2024, and Purdue has spent the offseason trying to find the best way to use his size and movement skills under a new staff.
The early answer appears to be on the inside, where Easley is projected to settle in as the starting left guard next season. He has already worked there in spring drills, and the Boilermakers now have a clearer picture of how he might fit next to Joey Tanona on the left side as Zac Crabtree takes on the job of developing a line that needs more stability and, perhaps, a stronger run-game identity. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Just Made An Early Move On A Michigan Guard To Watch
Purdue has gotten an early look at one of the more intriguing young guards in the Midwest, extending a scholarship offer to a rising Michigan prospect who is already drawing attention well beyond his age group. The 6-foot-5 combo guard from Chelsea High School just wrapped up his freshman season, and his production backed up the buzz, with a big scoring average, steady all-around numbers and a stack of early honors to go with it.
What makes the offer notable for Purdue is the fit as much as the resume. The young guards size, shot-making ability and defensive activity give him a profile that could eventually translate well in Matt Painters system, especially if his development continues on the current track. Rutgers, Ohio and Bowling Green are also in the mix, but Purdue getting in this early suggests the Boilermakers see him as a name worth tracking closely in the 2029 class. [Read more 🡒]