Willis Talks About Saturday’s Purdue Visit

The Boiling Point: Derek Willis talked to the Journal & Courier about his visit to Purdue Saturday.

Derek Willis, one of the nation’s top big men for the 2013 recruiting class, was in Louisville, West Lafayette and Bloomington this weekend. Friday night the Willis family saw Louisville’s version of Midnight Madness, Saturday they watched Purdue’s first hour of REAL practice and then departed for Bloomington to take in Indiana’s Hoosier Hysteria event.

Willis, who committed to Purdue last spring before decommiting in the summer, still claims to have Purdue on his short list. He now hopes to commit next October or November to his final school choice, according to the Journal & Courier.

Willis had some quotes in the article, albeit short ones:

"“Purdue definitely still is in my picture. I’m glad we came up here. It’s good to be back.”"

"“They work real hard, and they get after it. I like their intensity. That’s what I’m looking for.”"

"“I’m not in a hurry, but I want to commit next year about this time,” Willis said. “I’m looking forward to that.”"

As most that follow this recruitment likely guessed, Derek’s father had some quotes as well:

"“We’re real glad we got to come up,” Del Willis said. “Purdue never has been out of Derek’s mind. But when a kid commits when he is 15 years old, it’s a lot to take in.”"

"“The people around the Louisville area — not just kids — are Kentucky and Louisville fans, so it made him second-guess a little bit. I think it’s good that he has looked around and is experiencing the whole recruiting process.”"

"“When it’s all said and done, if he does come back to Purdue, he will come back without any doubt in his mind,” Willis said. “He will know, ‘Yes, I knew this is where I wanted to be, and this confirms it.'”"

"“I don’t want any doubt in his mind. I’m not saying he is going to come back to Purdue, but I’m saying that if he does, he won’t be looking over his shoulder saying, ‘Should I have gone here or there?’ The ‘What if’ question is a killer.”"