WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Junior guard Nojel Eastern was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team, the league office announced Wednesday at the league's annual media day in Chicago.
Eastern is one of 10 selections to the team and the only Purdue player represented. He was joined on the squad by unanimous selections Cassius Winston (Michigan State), Anthony Cowan Jr. (Maryland) and Kaleb Wesson (Ohio State), as well as Ayo Dosunmu (Illinois), Joe Weiskamp (Iowa), Jalen Smith (Maryland), Zavier Simpson (Michigan), Xavier Tillman (Michigan State) and Lamar Stevens (Penn State).
Eastern, a 6-foot, 7-inch, 225-pound point guard from Evanston, Illinois, averaged 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while starting 35 of 36 games a year for the Big Ten co-champion Boilermakers. After a slow start to the season, he finished the year by averaging 8.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game over the last 21 outings. He recorded double-doubles against Indiana, Michigan State and Nebraska and was a member of the Big Ten's All-Defensive Team. Eastern is regarded as one of the top defensive players in America.
The Boilermakers will open the season Nov. 6, against Green Bay in Mackey Arena.
Eastern is one of 10 selections to the team and the only Purdue player represented. He was joined on the squad by unanimous selections Cassius Winston (Michigan State), Anthony Cowan Jr. (Maryland) and Kaleb Wesson (Ohio State), as well as Ayo Dosunmu (Illinois), Joe Weiskamp (Iowa), Jalen Smith (Maryland), Zavier Simpson (Michigan), Xavier Tillman (Michigan State) and Lamar Stevens (Penn State).
Eastern, a 6-foot, 7-inch, 225-pound point guard from Evanston, Illinois, averaged 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while starting 35 of 36 games a year for the Big Ten co-champion Boilermakers. After a slow start to the season, he finished the year by averaging 8.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game over the last 21 outings. He recorded double-doubles against Indiana, Michigan State and Nebraska and was a member of the Big Ten's All-Defensive Team. Eastern is regarded as one of the top defensive players in America.
The Boilermakers will open the season Nov. 6, against Green Bay in Mackey Arena.