Analysis—Why Caden Pierce matters

Purdue struck the first consequential blow of the 2026 college basketball transfer portal cycle Friday when it landed a commitment from Princeton forward and former Ivy League Player of the Year Caden Pierce.

The 6-foot-7 inside-outside forward from Chicagoland is redshirting this year while finishing his degree at Princeton and will enroll at Purdue this summer. He chose the Boilermakers after also officially visiting Louisville, Duke, Gonzaga and Connecticut. He will have one year of eligibility at Purdue.

What it means …

PURDUE GETS MORE ATHLETIC

After being too small in its frontcourt last year and at times too big this season, Purdue gets something different in Pierce, a perimeter-skilled 4 man with not only high-end athleticism but functional athleticism.

He’s shown at Princeton that he’s not just a jumper but a forward who can handle the ball, drive past defenders and use his explosiveness at the rim. He’s a potent three-point shooter who can drive off shot fakes and closeouts; players who can’t do those things aren’t leveraging their athleticism to the fullest.

PURDUE GETS MORE DYNAMIC

Between Pierce and Jack Benter, Purdue will have a pair of really skilled, similarly sized forwards who might even be able to play together given that Benter can credibly handle the ball and pass as a wing should Purdue try moving him around after he’ll have spent this whole season as a 4.

Defensively, having a bit more mobility at the 4 or size at the 3, should Benter play some there, should make Purdue more interchangeable on defense, switching screens and all, especially considering that Purdue figures to have big guards, too. Pierce’s positional quickness and length can’t hurt defensively.

Pierce’s addition guarantees another season in which Purdue will have capable shooters all over the floor, but it bears mentioning that for four years, Braden Smith will have made the collective around him look pretty good in that sense. That’s the element that’ll be most difficult to replace.

PURDUE GETS DEEPER AND OLDER

On paper, Purdue again looks to have a deep group. Long way to go before depth is proven, but for a team that’ll lose a great senior class, looking good on paper is better than the alternative.

Additionally, the ranks are fortified in a variety of ways.

For one thing, Pierce gives Purdue a real senior among its core group of contributors. As of now, he’s it.

Second, with Raleigh Burgess and Antione West coming out of redshirt and Benter and Pierce having redshirted during their careers, Matt Painter will again have a roster older than its aggregate eligibility.

Purdue is less likely now, too, to have to rush any freshmen (other than Luke Ertel) to the floor, so the redshirting cycle could continue with other freshmen should Purdue see fit. But that’s a long way off. Just pointing out that the more proven guys you have, the more options you have.

PURDUE PORTAL PUNCH

This is now three out of the last four seasons that Purdue got the guy it wanted from the transfer market. First, Lance Jones, then Oscar Cluff, now Pierce.

It’s not going to happen every year, but it speaks to Purdue’s reputation in the marketplace and proves its competitive viability from a resources/money perspective.

Pierce may not be a transformational player, nor should Purdue need him to be, but he was the first real battleground recruit of this portal cycle.

WHAT NOW?

Obviously, Purdue will have to keep its current group together, which won’t be known ’til after the season, but as things stand right now, it would seem to have good reason to still look for size and physicality in its frontcourt after Cluff leaves, assuming sixth-year hypotheticals don’t materialize in a courtroom somewhere.

Purdue needs rebounding. Daniel Jacobsen has a chance to be outstanding when his time comes, but Purdue would seem to have reason to try to find some bulk and power to complement him. Maybe Burgess can dull that need. Maybe freshman Sinan Huan can. Or fifth-year senior Sam King as part of a coalition, though he’s not a true center. No telling. But as things stand right now, adding another, older 5 man would seem like good business.