Purdue Men’s Basketball Signs One Of Nation’s Top Classes

By: Contributor Last Updated: November 9, 2011

Head coach Matt Painter and the purdue-logoPurdue men’s basketball staff put the official seal on one of the nation’s top recruiting classes on Wednesday, as a highly-praised quartet signed National Letters of Intent to begin competing for the Boilermakers in the 2012-13 season.

Rapheal Davis, A.J. Hammons, Ronnie Johnson and Jay Simpson comprise a class that is regarded as the 13th-best in the nation by ESPN and 16th by Scout.com.

“I think we’ve signed a class with a little bit of everything, and that doesn’t always happen,” Painter said. “When you’re able to get size, shot blocking and the ability to rebound the ball to go along with a scorer and a point guard, it’s a great class.”

Each of the Boilermakers’ signees has strong Indiana roots, as Davis, Hammons and Johnson are each in-state products, and Simpson is completing his prep career at La Lumiere School in LaPorte, Ind., after growing up in nearby Champaign, Ill.

“Being able to recruit within our state and have success is very important to us,” Painter said. “You want to address your needs, but you also have to find individuals who are going to fit in your program. Guys from within your state are going to have more familiarity with your program, and we spend a lot of time with those guys and develop a relationship from an early age.”

Purdue’s 2011 Signing Class

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School/Previous School)
Rapheal Davis G 6-5 200 Fort Wayne, Ind. (La Lumiere School)
A.J. Hammons C 7-0 275 Carmel, Ind. (Oak Hill (Va.) Academy)
Ronnie Johnson G 5-11 160 Indianapolis, Ind. (North Central)
Jay Simpson F 6-9 253 Champaign, Ill. (La Lumiere School)

Rapheal Davis
Davis averaged 28.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game as a junior at Fort Wayne South Side in 2010-11 to earn all-conference and all-area accolades. A versatile wing who competes on both ends of the floor, he can score in a variety of ways.

“Rapheal is a very strong, athletic guard who can flat-out put the ball in the basket,” Painter said. “He’s got a chance to be an excellent defender because he has the athleticism and the determination to do it. He’s a guy who you watch and think he had a good game, then you look at the box score and he had 34 points. He’s always on the hunt and looking to attack.”

  • Graded a 93 and ranked as the No. 76 overall prospect and the No. 14 shooting guard, as well as the state’s No. 8 player, in his class by ESPN
  • Given a three-star rating and ranked No. 106 nationally and No. 21 among shooting guards in his class by Rivals.com
  • Given a three-star rating and ranked as the No. 19 shooting guard in his class by Scout.com
  • Rated the ninth-best prospect in the state by the Indianapolis Star
  • Selected for the NBA Top 100 Camp in 2011, where he averaged 7.8 points per game
  • An honorable mention AP all-state selection in 2010 and 2011
  • An Indiana Junior All-Star and IBCA All-State Underclassman in 2011
  • A three-time All-Summit Athletic Conference first-team honoree
  • A Journal Gazette All-Northeast Indiana selection in 2011
  • Averaged 28.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game as a junior at Fort Wayne South Side
  • Coached by Alan Huss at La Lumiere School and Jared Quarles with Spiece Indy Heat

“Rapheal is a polished kid with high character,” Huss said. “He’s a great student in the classroom, and he’s consistently working on his game. He can score in a variety of ways, and he’s working on becoming a good defender. He has a toughness to him that allows him to compete at a high level.”

“Rapheal is a tough kid and a hard worker,” Quarles said. “He can score a lot of different ways, and he can guard a couple different positions. He’s an unselfish kid who will bring some leadership qualities to the program, as well.”

A.J. Hammons
Hammons shot a team-high 58 percent from the floor last season to help lead Oak Hill to a 29-4 record and a No. 4 final national ranking. As a sophomore at Carmel High School in 2009-10, he averaged 8.3 points and 7.8 boards per game. A mobile center with soft hands and a knack for scoring, Hammons can also change games on the defensive end with his ability to rebound and block shots.

“A.J. gives us a big guy with a presence on the interior,” Painter said. “He’s really made strides on the offensive end, and he has the ability to change the game on the defensive end with his ability to block shots and rebound the ball. He does an excellent job out outleting the ball, and he’s a good passer overall. I think his best basketball is ahead of him, and he has a chance to be a special player.”

  • Graded a 93 and ranked as the No. 78 overall prospect and the No. 13 center, as well as the state’s No. 9 player, in his class by ESPN
  • Given a three-star rating and ranked No. 123 nationally and No. 18 among centers in his class by Rivals.com
  • Given a four-star rating and ranked as the No. 19 center in his class by Scout.com
  • Attended the 2011 NBA Top 100 Camp
  • A 2010 AP honorable mention all-state honoree at Carmel High School
  • Shot 58 percent from the floor to lead Oak Hill as a junior
  • Helped Oak Hill to a 29-4 record and a No. 4 final national ranking in 2010-11
  • Averaged 8.3 points and 7.8 rebounds as a sophomore at Carmel High School in 2009-10 to earn All-MIC honors
  • Chose Purdue over Cincinnati and Minnesota
  • Coached by Steve Smith at Oak Hill Academy and Jared Quarles with Spiece Indy Heat

“A.J. is a seven-footer whose best days are ahead of him,” Smith said. “The sky is the limit for him. He runs, rebounds and blocks shots, and his intensity on the court is much improved. A.J. is really coming into his own and he has a chance to be a really good player.”

“A.J. has mobility and good hands to go along with his size,” Quarles said. “He’s got a good work ethic and he’s still developing on the offensive end, but he should come into his own at Purdue.”

Ronnie Johnson
After teaming with brother and current Purdue sophomore Terone Johnson to lead North Central to the 2010 Indiana 4A state title, Ronnie Johnson averaged 14.5 points and 5.0 assists per game as a junior in 2010-11 to pace the school to a regional crown. A quintessential point guard, he can both score and distribute on the offensive end, and has built a reputation as a dogged defender who is adept at playing passing lanes.

“Ronnie is a great pickup for us because he’s always been a guy who has simply won,” Painter said. “That’s what you want from a point guard and a leader, and he’s done it on every level. He has a great knack for finding people, and he sees the game as well as anyone in the country. He’ll help us with his quickness and ability to put pressure on the ball, as well as his ability to push the ball on the offensive end.”

  • Graded a 93 and ranked as the No. 80 overall prospect and the No. 13 point guard, as well as the state’s No. 10 player, in his class by ESPN
  • Given a four-star rating, ranked No. 91 nationally and rated No. 18 among point guards in his class by Rivals.com
  • Given a four-star rating and ranked as the No. 13 point guard in his class by Scout.com
  • Tabbed a four-star recruit and the No. 92 player in his class by MaxPreps
  • Rated the sixth-best prospect in the state by the Indianapolis Star
  • Attended the NBA Top 100 Camp in 2011, ranking 13th at the event with an average of 10.8 points per game
  • An honorable mention AP all-state selection in 2011
  • An Indiana Junior All-Star and IBCA All-State Underclassman in 2011
  • A 2011 first-team All-MIC selection Averaged 14.5 points and 5.0 assists as a junior to pace North Central to a regional title
  • Teamed with brother Terone to lead North Central to the 2010 Indiana Class 4A championship
  • Chose Purdue over Illinois and Butler
  • Coached by Doug Mitchell at North Central and Pat Mullin on the AAU circuit

“Ronnie Johnson is the best high school passer I’ve seen in 30 years in the business,” Mitchell said. “He’s a tremendous player. His main strength is his ability to see two or three moves ahead. He has an incredible ability to anticipate on the offensive end. Above all that, he’s a great person, and I think Purdue fans will fall in love with him.”

“Ronnie is one of the best passing guards I’ve ever coached,” Mullin said. “He makes his teammates better when he’s on the court. He’s got a good attitude, and he’s a good defender. As good a player as Ronnie is, he’s an even better person with his positive outlook and love for the game.”

Jay Simpson
Simpson averaged 12.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game as a junior at Champaign Central in 2010-11, earning all-conference and all-area honors. Armed with the ability to score both inside and out, he has been praised for his ability to attack the rim and finish through contact.

“Jay has a great combination of size and skill,” Painter said. “He’s battled asthma, but it’s under control and we’re looking forward to him proving that he’s one of the best big men in this class. He can shoot the ball, drive the ball or post, and once he’s able to keep up with the game and understand defensive schemes, he has a chance to be a very good player.”

  • Graded a 90 and ranked as the No. 32 power forward in his class, as well as the No. 2 player in the state of Illinois, by ESPN
  • Given a four-star rating, ranked as the No. 101 overall recruit and ranked as the No. 30 power forward in his class by Rivals.com
  • Given a four-star rating and ranked as the No. 22 power forward in his class by Scout.com
  •  One of 80 players from around the country to earn an invitational to the 2011 Under Armour Best of the Best Camp
  • Averaged 12.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game as a junior at Champaign Central to earn All-Area honors from the News-Gazette
  • Also netted first-team All-Big 12 honors as a junior at Champaign Central
  • Coached by Alan Huss at La Lumiere School and Mike Mullins on the AAU circuit

“Jay is an extremely talented player,” Huss said. “He has tools that you can’t teach, like soft hands, a feel for the game and good court vision. He’s working on his body, and when he gets it to a point where he’s college-ready, he could be an all-league type of player.”

“Jay is one of the most talented big men in the class of 2012, and has tremendous upside,” Mullins said. “He’s battled some issues related to asthma which held him back in the past, but he’s gotten those under control. He’s shown that he has elite-level skill. Under the direction and instruction of the Purdue coaching staff, he should develop into one of the most productive big men in the class.”