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Purdue basketball likes its French forward, just hopes he'll be eligible soon
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- Purdue basketball likes its French forward, just hopes he'll be eligible soon
WEST LAFAYETTE — No longer with the rebounding advantage Purdue basketball enjoyed with Oscar Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn , Matt Painter is eyeing which players can best absorb those departures on the boards.
There's one obvious answer running with the Boilermakers in practice.
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But there is one hiccup.
Purdue doesn't know if, or when, Enzo Shahrvin will be eligible.
"Hopefully in the next couple of weeks, we'll know better," Painter said after Friday's practice. "You just never know. It's out of your control."
Enzo Shahrvin flushes a reverse dunk during practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
Shahrvin, a 23-year-old 6-foot-7 forward from France, was cleared to begin practicing with the Boilermakers in July. However, that was the first of two obstacles. He's still awaiting word from the NCAA whether he'll be eligible to compete this season.
If cleared by the NCAA, Shahrvin would have one year of eligibility after spending four seasons with Paris Basketball's EuroCup and Betclic Elite League. Due to the NCAA's new age-based model, Shahrvin would not be eligible to be college basketball beyond this season.
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As Purdue is still early in evaluating the rotations and how minutes will be divided, Painter said rebounding could be a separator, before noting Shahrvin being one who has stood out.
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Purdue's first of three exhibition games is Oct. 18 against Ball State. Painter remains hopeful the Boilermakers receive word on Shahrvin's status by the regular season opener against Gonzaga on Nov. 2 in Las Vegas.
Without Shahrvin, it would likely open up more playing time for Raleigh Burgess, who redshirted last season after playing as a true freshman in 2024-25. If that's the case, Purdue is comfortable with Burgess' skillset.
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But Shahvrin adds a different dynamic if he's cleared to play by the NCAA.
"More with him is rebounding and physicality," Purdue associate head coach P.J. Thompson said. "He can handle the ball in the halfcourt. He's good at getting the ball from one action to the next. He's an unbelievable screen setter. He has unbelievable pace. He helps our team. The part that sucks is we don't know. I know when I see him in practice, he helps us."
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue basketball likes its French forward, just hopes he'll be eligible soon
