Painter Inks Three in Early Signing Period
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue head coach Matt Painter has announced that three prospects have signed their national letters of intent and will join the Boilermakers for the 2018-19 season.
Post players Emmanuel Dowuona and Trevion Williams and guard Eric Hunter Jr. have submitted their paperwork and are officially members of the Boilermakers’ basketball program.
“We are really excited about signing Emmanuel, Eric and Trevion. We are fortunate to sign very talented players that have huge upside,” Painter said. “All three players are great people and great teammates, love playing basketball, fit our culture and will make a big impact on our program moving forward.
Emmanuel Dowuona / 6-11 / 225 / Center / Miami, Florida / Westwood Christian School
- Ranked as a 4-star center on 247Sports from Westwood Christian School in Miami, Dowuona verbally committed to the Boilermakers on Sept. 19.
- A four-star center according to ESPN.com, he is ranked No. 87 in the ESPN 100.
- Ranked as the sixth-best center in America according to 247Sports.
- Chose Purdue over offers from Tennessee, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Miami (Fla.) and others.
- Took only one official visit – to Purdue in June.
- Has only played basketball for about four years after giving up his first love – soccer.
- A native of Ghana, Dowuona arrived in Miami about two years ago.
- Named Team MVP as a junior after averaging about 13 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks per game. Led Westwood Christian to a district title.
- A long, lanky athlete, Dowuona is a defensive standout that will get better with time offensively.
- One of his strengths is that he plays very hard every time out.
- Has “a love for Purdue and the program in which he will fit in with”.
- Chose Purdue because of the great development of players and the academic prestige.
- High school coach is Jose Amat.
- Full name is Emmanuel NiiNortey Dowuona.
- Son of Dowuona Emmanuel Nii Noi and Julianna Cudjoe.
- Has three brothers, Ebenezer (15), Samuel (3) and Prince (3), and one sister, Karen (1).
- Enjoys painting.
- Intends to major in construction engineering.
Eric Hunter Jr. / 6-3 / 170 / Guard / Indianapolis, Indiana / Tindley Prep
- Ranked as a 4-star shooting guard by Rivals, Hunter verbally committed to the Boilermakers on Sept. 25.
- Chose Purdue over offers from Minnesota, Nebraska, Butler, Ohio State and Creighton.
- Named the Indy Star’s Preseason City Player of the Year for 2017-18.
- Led Tindley Prep to its first state title in school history after averaging 25.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting over 53 percent from 3-point range as a junior.
- Was named the 2017 Indianapolis City Player of the Year.
- Enters his senior year with 1,836 career points and is on pace to become Marion County’s all-time leading scorer. Needs 660 points to move into seventh on the state’s career scoring list.
- Posted big games during his junior campaign, including a 40-point effort against eventual 3A state champion Crispus Attucks.
- A lefty scorer, Hunter is effective on the offensive end from all over the court.
- Has all the skills needed to be an outstanding defensive player.
- Coach Bob Wonnell stated, “I enjoyed every bit about him – the idea that our best player was our hardest worker from three years.”
- Chose Purdue because of the “family environment at Purdue and it’s a great situation academically and athletically”.
- High school coach for his first three years was Bob Wonnell. Current head coach is Marcel Bonds.
- Full name is Eric Lorenzo Hunter Jr.
- Son of Eric Sr. and Bridgett Hunter.
- Enjoys drawing and painting portraits.
- Intends to major in marketing / business.
Trevion Williams / 6-9 / 270 / Forward / Chicago, Illinois / Henry Ford Academy
- A four-star player by ESPN.com, Williams committed to the Boilermakers on July 6.
- Chose Purdue over offers from Michigan State, Illinois, Xavier, UNLV and DePaul.
- One of his role models is former Purdue great Caleb Swanigan, who was built similarly.
- Averaged 22 points and 25 rebounds per game at Henry Ford Academy in Detroit. Lived in Chicago and attended Mt. Carmel High School, but moved to Detroit following an uncle’s death in 2015.
- Was named the Michigan Metro Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a junior.
- Fractured a foot in the first game of the state tournament, hampering his summer production.
- Averaged 7.8 points and 8.6 rebounds in just 11.4 minutes per game for The Family in Nike EYBL play last summer, while still recovering from his injury.
- Was invited to the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp last June.
- A tremendous passer and has great footwork for a player his size. Should take off once he arrives at Purdue with its top-notch strength and conditioning plan.
- Named Team MVP three times and won the Leadership Award twice and Mr. Metro once.
- Head coach Joseph Hines said, “We believe in Trevion and know that he will thrive in an environment that is intentional to develop him holistically in academics, basketball and socially. Trey is a special person, and the college coaches and recruiters realized that.”
- AAU assistant coach Mike Faletti said, ““Tre made a great choice because Purdue makes developing strong post players such a priority. He’s also going to have a strength and conditioning coach there who will maximize his potential.”
- Chose Purdue to “have the opportunity to do something special and during his visits, was convinced that Purdue would allow him to see him achieve his dreams.”
- Head coach is Joseph Hines.
- Full name is Trevion Lamon Williams.
- Son of Shawndra Lewis and Theodore Williams.
- Enjoys singing.
- Undecided major but has a career goal to be a youth counselor.