Swanigan Selected 26th by Portland

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Purdue All-American Caleb Swanigan was selected 26th by the Portland Trail Blazers in Thursday’s NBA Draft, making him the first Purdue sophomore or younger in school history to be drafted.
Swanigan becomes Purdue’s 48th NBA Draft selection in school history and it marks the second straight year that a Boilermaker has been selected. He is the sixth Boilermaker taken during the Painter era, joining Carl Landry (2007; 31st), JaJuan Johnson (2011; 27th), E’Twaun Moore (2011; 55th), Robbie Hummel (2012; 58th) and A.J. Hammons (2016; 46th).
“Being selected tonight in the NBA Draft is a dream come true. I have been thinking of this moment for a long time. I know this is only the first step in my professional career, but I am extremely excited for to begin this journey,” Swanigan said. “I’d like to thank the entire Portland Trail Blazers organization, general manager Neil Olshey and coach Terry Stotts for this opportunity. Lastly, I’d like to thank the entire Purdue University coaching staff, teammates and university for their support during this process. I am ready to make the most of this.”
“We are thrilled that Biggie has achieved his lifelong dream of being selected in the NBA Draft. It’s been an incredibly tough road for him to get to this point and no one deserves it more than he does,” Painter said. “His work ethic, desire to be great and willingness to be a great teammate will make him very successful at the next level. He has developed into an outstanding player and his best basketball is yet to come.”
Swanigan was named a consensus first team All-American and was a finalist for the Wooden, Malone and Big O Awards after an incredible sophomore season.
He recorded one of the top statistical seasons in not only Purdue history, but NCAA history, en route to first-team honors. Swanigan averaged 18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field, 44.7 percent from 3-point range and 78.1 percent from the free throw line.
Swanigan is the only major-college player (and one of two players total) to record 600 points, 400 rebounds and 100 assists in a season (Towson’s Jerrelle Benimon in 2013-14). He joins legendary Tim Duncan of Wake Forest (1996-97 season) as the only players in the last 25 years to average at least 18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in a season.
Swanigan is the only player in the last 31 years (since the 1985-86 season) with at least 640 points, 430 rebounds and 100 assists.
His 28 double-doubles were the most for a player in Big Ten history and 13th most for a player in NCAA history, leading the country in that category. He set Purdue’s season rebounds record by almost 100 rebounds (436; Joe Barry Carroll is second with 352) and recorded 10 more double-doubles than any player in Purdue history.
In addition, Swanigan was named a second team Academic All-American, owning a 3.60 grade-point average during the spring semester and a 3.34 cumulative GPA.
Swanigan led the Boilermakers to a 27-8 overall record, a berth in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and Purdue’s 23rd Big Ten championship. The Boilermakers’ title was their 10th outright league title, winning the Big Ten regular-season championship by two full games.
Swanigan is the highest pick of a Purdue player since Glenn Robinson was selected No. 1 in the 1994 Draft.
Swanigan becomes Purdue’s eighth first-round draft pick in school history.
Swanigan is the first Boilermaker to be drafted by Portland.
This marks the first time since the 1990 and 1991 drafts that Purdue has had top-50 selections in consecutive drafts.
Swanigan becomes the 48th player in Purdue history to be drafted.
Swanigan is the first Purdue player to be drafted before his eligibility expired since Glenn Robinson went No. 1, in 1994.
Purdue has now had five players selected in the last seven NBA Drafts.