Last season, the Purdue Boilermakers found themselves in the NCAA Championship game against the explosive UConn team. They ended up losing the game, but their center, Zach Edey, still had a great performance. He’s been a big contributor to the team since his first season in 2020. Now, it’s time for Edey to enter the NBA 2024 Draft. Purdue will have to replace their star center, and it seems like they’ve found the kid to do it.
Who is Daniel Jacobsen
Meet Purdue’s new 7’3” center, Daniel Jacobsen:
9 PTS
10 REBS
5 BLKSTeam USA beats Argentina by 22-points in the FIBA U18 Americup 🏆
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) June 4, 2024
The 7’3 center was picked up by Purdue in his freshman year, and he will look to make an impact on the team right away. The young player went to Brewster Academy and finished his senior year with 7.6 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, and .8 assists per game. Under the coaching staff of Purdue, look for Jacobsen to make some leaps in stats as they try to mold him into their next big star.
The Chicago native was being recruited by a good number of colleges. These schools include Tulsa, UW, Xavier, and New Mexico State. Of course, Jacobsen chose to go to a school that’s been consistent at winning. Also, the Edey size hole in the roster probably influenced him as well.
Jacobsen’s Time With Team USA
Jacobsen made his way to Colorado Springs for training camp with the 2024 Men’s U18 Team. After a short time in the camp, he was called up to join the team. He’s played two games so far in the FIBA Men’s U18 Americup and has shown his great skill in the center position.
His first game was against Argentina, where he had nine points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks. The USA won the game 88-66. Next up, he’d face off against Belize today, June 4th. He got himself eight points, three rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. There are pretty consistent stats for such a young player. Team USA dominated the game with a 140-54 win. The next chance to see the young center play will be on June 5th against Brazil.
New Hope for Purdue
Last season ended in disappointment for the Boilermakers as they walked away with the label runner-up. This would also be the final game for Zach Edey, leaving a big opening for the team to fill. He was the most crucial player on the team and the one doing almost all of the dirty work to get them where they were. Jacobsen’s appearance will most likely give them hope for another championship shot.
I expect Jacobsen’s first year to be a bit rocky. The shift from high school or preparatory school to college can be a difficult one. However, Purdue has experience with a player like him. They should be able to help him adjust well. I wouldn’t be surprised if fans got to see Daniel Jacobsen in a championship game by his sophomore or junior year. Maybe he can be the player to help them get that elusive NCAA Championship trophy.
About the Author
Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Her favorite sport to watch is basketball, but she also enjoys professional wrestling, soccer, and baseball. She also loves writing about anything ranging from sports articles to short stories and poems. She hopes to one day write her own sci-fi series and adventure series. You can find her on X @edellapiana1 to check out more content.
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