Purdue's Hammons announces he will return

The first time A.J. Hammons put off the NBA draft to return to Purdue, he opted for the tried-and-true method of an e-mailed news release.

For his second such announcement, the 7-foot center went a more dramatic route.

Following introductions of the Purdue Intercollegiate Atheltics Hall of Fame's incoming class at halftime of Saturday's spring football game, fans were asked to turn their attention to Ross-Ade Stadium's south end zone. There, Hammons stood with a microphone, flanked by several of his teammates.

"I just want to say, it's been a great three years," Hammons said, "and I'm coming back for my fourth."

After a loud ovation from the crowd, Hammons added, "Boiler up!"

Hammons sought feedback from the NBA's Undergratuate Advisory Committee Application for the second time in as many years. When he returned to Purdue last season, he cited a desire to help turn around a program coming off a last-place Big Ten finish.

His return keeps intact the nucleus of a team that finished 22-12 and shared a three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years.

Hammons was a second-team All-Big Ten selection and a member of the All-Defensive Team as a junior. The 7-foot, 260-pound Gary native led the Boilermakers in scoring (11.9), rebounds (6.6) and blocks (2.8) while shooting 54 percent from the field and 66.9 percent at the free throw line. He led the conference in blocks for a third straight season.

"Earning my degree is one of the most important goals that I have for myself, and returning to Purdue next year will enable me to reach that," Hammons said in a news release. "In addition, I feel that our team has a lot of unfinished business to reach next season and I want to be a part of something special. Purdue is an outstanding school with great people and the chance to compete for a Big Ten Championship and more is something I want to experience again with my teammates.

"After getting the reports from the NBA evaluation process, I know what I need to improve on to carry my game to the next level. This is the best place for me to develop as both a player and as a person."

Hammons teamed with 7-foot-2, 297-pound freshman Isaac Haas to form one of the country's best post combinations. Playing with more outward emotion than in previous seasons, Hammons turned in his most consistent performance over the final two months. Beginning with a return to the starting lineup on Jan. 24 against Iowa, he averaged 13.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks.

Hammons earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors after posting 20 points and four blocks in a 67-63 victory at Indiana on Feb. 19. He totaled 17 points and 10 rebounds in just 29 minutes in Purdue's 66-65 loss to Cincinnati in the NCAA Tournament.

"I thought he had some good moments in non-conference, but he wasn't as consistent as he needed to be," Purdue coach Matt Painter said after the team's postseason banquet. "Isaac clearly played better than him during a stretch, so we flip-flopped them in the starting lineup.

"When we put him back in the lineup, his approach was better, his results were better — he was a more productive player on both ends of the court. You could outwardly see it, that he was engaged and ready to play the rest of the season."

Point guard Jon Octeus exhausted his eligibility, but the rest of Purdue's late-season starting lineup returns. That includes Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and third-year captain Rapheal Davis and rising sophomores Vince Edwards and Dakota Mathias.

Big Ten Network analyst Stephen Bardo recently said Hammons' return could make Purdue a top 25 team to open the season — and one that might challenge Maryland atop the Big Ten Conference.

"For my own selfish purposes I'd like him to come back, because it's been a pleasure to watch him mature," Bardo said. "He's engaging, smiling, playing hard more consistently. He looks like he's having fun."