BYU Makes Top Three For 7-Foot-3-Inch Purdue Graduate Transfer Matt Haarms
Apr 21, 2020, 1:17 PM | Updated: 1:32 pm
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - DECEMBER 04: Matt Haarms #32 of the Purdue Boilermakers celebrates with fans after the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Mackey Arena on December 4, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue defeated Virginia 69-40. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – BYU is a finalist for one of college basketball’s top graduate transfers this off-season in 7-foot-3-inch Purdue center Matt Haarms.
Haarms narrowed his list of suitors down to three on Tuesday. The final three include Kentucky, Texas Tech, and BYU. When Haarms entered the transfer portal earlier this month, dozens of schools contacted the Boilermaker big.
Purdue transfer Matt Haarms, the top available transfer, tells ESPN he's down to Kentucky, Texas Tech and BYU.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 21, 2020
In three seasons, Haarms started in 40 games during his time in West Lafayette. Haarms’ arrival in the transfer portal was somewhat shocking to the Purdue coaching staff. Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter said in a teleconference with media that Haarms didn’t hint at leaving West Lafayette.
Haarms finished his career fourth all-time in Purdue history with 210 career blocks, good for 2.1 per game.
How BYU is recruiting Matt Haarms
Right now college basketball coaches are not permitted to participate in on-campus or in-person recruiting activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So everything taking place with any sort of recruit from high school to graduate transfers is being done digitally.
Pope and his staff have abided by the rules and are communicating as much as they can to be in a position to land top prospects such as Haarms.
“Recruiting is really, really important and we spend a lot of time doing it,” Pope said after the NCAA Tournament was canceled in March. “If it turns out that we have to do [recruiting] by coming up with some ridiculously absurd and creative ways to do video conferences then we’ll do it better than anyone else in the country.”
Pope and his staff have been showcasing their facilities and what BYU has to offer to recruits such as Haarms via Zoom and other digital communication.
Haarms will be the biggest (literally) target that BYU’s coaching staff pursues this off-season. ESPN has Haarms as the top available graduate transfer right now and Kentucky appears to be the favorite. According to Jeff Goodman, Haarms is expected to make his decision between BYU, Kentucky, and Texas Tech later this week.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
