Categories crunchfx

Kendall Puryear is ready to shine in the post

Kendall Puryear is ready to shine in the post

play

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue women’s basketball freshman power forward Kendall Puryear learned at an early age to never play the game softly.

This was also due to the driveway fights he had with his older brother Kevin, who was seven years older than him.

“My brother and I used to play against each other,” Puryear said. “He would beat me up real bad and it gave me a thick skin. I was eight years old and he was 15 and he would block my shots. He didn’t care.”

In addition to being a standout player at Mizzou, Kevin was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and became one of only five players in Tigers history to start at least 119 games, score 1,000 points and grab 500 rebounds.

Kendall Puryear has grown to 6 feet 3 inches with the ability to score around the rim, have her back to the basket and aggressively grab rebounds. She comes to Purdue looking to create her own legacy.

“Those records are great, but chasing a National Championship would be even better,” Puryear said. “Right now, I just want to do what it takes to help my team get where we’re going.”

The Boilermakers added depth on their offensive line with the additions of transfer forward Reagan Bass, junior Alaina Harper and freshman Lana McCarthy, who was named the 2024 New Hampshire Volleyball and Basketball Player of the Year.

Purdue had a 15-19 season overall and 5-13 in Big Ten Conference play before reaching the Big 8 in the WNIT Tournament.

Puryear came to West Lafayette after being ranked as the No. 2 player in Missouri and being an All-American Games nominee his senior year.

More: Purdue women’s basketball signings show promise ahead of Spain trip

“They all teach me something,” Puryear said. “It’s been an adjustment playing against big guys who are as big, talented and strong as I am. They’ve taught me a lot and it’s been a great experience.”

Purdue coach Katie Gearlds shared what she’s seen from Puryear and McCarthy so far.

“They’re naturally strong,” Gearlds said. “They have a body that naturally allows them to play through contact. I don’t know if that’s better because I’ve seen a lot of missed layups and I think it’s better to understand the timing, the angles. I think they’re a lot more advanced offensively than they are defensively right now. So it’s better for them to make the layups because we have a lot to learn defensively. But they’re so hungry and eager to learn that it’s a blessing to work with them every day.”

Off the court, Puryear is receiving mentorship from Bradley and UTEP senior transfer Mahri Petree.

Petree is another big man the Boilermakers have added via the portal, able to stretch the floor with his shooting or post ups and find passes to his teammates toward the basket.

“Mahri has a spirit of his own, an energy and passion that no one else can match,” Puryear said. “I really admire that.”

Ethan Hanson is a sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at: [email protected]On Twitter Ethan A Hanson and on Instagram Ethan_A_Hanson.