2019-20 Men's Basketball Roster

Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Nojel Eastern

20 Nojel Eastern

  • Height
    6-7
  • Weight
    225
  • Class
    Junior
  • Hometown
    Evanston, Ill.
  • High School
    Evanston Township

Biography

2018-19 | Game-by-Game Statistics / Photo Gallery
• Eastern had a strong season, starting 35 of 36 games while averaging 7.5 points, a team-best 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
• Shot 49.5 percent from the field and 65.0 percent from the free throw line. After starting the year 3-of-12 from the stripe, he finished the year making 62 of his last 88 attempts (.705).
• Named to the Big Ten's All-Defensive Team after shutting down many outstanding perimeter players.
• Posted a team-best four double-doubles on the season (Minnesota, Nebraska, Michigan State, Indiana). 
• Tallied a career-high 15 points in a Homecoming game at Northwestern -- the game that clinched Purdue's 24th Big Ten Championship. 
• Scored 11 points with five rebounds, three assists and two steals in the Sweet 16 win over Tennessee.
• Had 14 points with six rebounds and six assists against Illinois.
• Posted an 89 / 51 (1.75) assist / turnover ratio, the second-best mark on the team. Had 20 games with one or fewer turnovers.

2017-18 / Game-by-Game Statistics
• Eastern appeared in all 37 games off the bench averaging 2.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 48.3 percent from the field.
• Ranked third on the team in offensive rebounds (37) despite playing the eighth-most minutes.
• Grabbed 10 rebounds in 24 minutes against Minnesota, the most for a guard in almost five years.
• Scored a career-high 11 points with six rebounds and a steal in the Big Ten Tournament championship game against Michigan.
• Dished out eight assists in 21 minutes in the season opener against SIU Edwardsville, the second most for a freshman in a season opener in school history. Also added eight points and five rebounds for a "statsheet stuffer" game, the second by a freshman in a season opener in school history (Chris Kramer).
• Sparked a second-half surge in a loss to Wisconsin, scoring seven points with two rebounds, two steals and an assist in 14 minutes.

HIGH SCHOOL
• A 4-star recruit according to ESPN.com, he was ranked as the 78th-best prospect in America and the 21st-best point guard nationally.
• Ranked a 4-star recruit and 73rd nationally by Rivals.com.
• Ranked a 4-star recruit and the 19th-best point guard nationally by Scout.com. "By adding Eastern, Purdue has one of the better classes in the Big Ten Conference".
• A 4-star recruit by 247Sports, ranked as the 59th-best player nationally.
• Called one of the "most unique and versatile perimeter players in the country" by ESPN, and a "playmaker with tremendous upside".
• Was 1-of-18 finalists for the USA Basketball U-17 team in the 2016 FIBA World Championships.
• Named to the 2015-16 USA Basketball men's junior national team in April 2015. Attended the 2015 USA Basketball U16 Training Camp, but was unable to participate due to injury.
• Participated in the 2014 USA Men's Junior National Team October minicamp.
• Named to the 2016 Chicago Sun Times All-Area first team.
• Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 3A/4A All-State first team (2016) and IBCA 3A/4A All-State second team (2015).
• As a junior in 2015-16 at Evanston Township, he averaged 14.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.0 BPG and 2.0 SPG in helping his team to a 23-6 record, an Illinois 4A Warren Regional championship and the Illinois Class 4A Glenbrook Sectional semifinals.Posted 25 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to help lead his team to a 53-39 victory over New Trier High School for the 2016 Central Suburban South title
• In 2014-15, he averaged 15.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 3.0 APG in leading his team to the Central Suburban League championship and an Illinois High School Association regional title.
• Owns a 6-foot-8 wingspan.
• Turned down offers from Michigan State, Ohio State, DePaul, Seton Hall, Iowa State, Northwestern, Missouri, Michigan and Illinois among others

PERSONAL
• Majoring in selling and sales management.
• Born May 26, 1999, in Chicago.
• Mother, Tamala Reed, played basketball, softball and volleyball at Chicago State.
• Away from the court, he enjoys writing poetry and studying the game of basketball.
• Before coming to Purdue, had never traveled outside the United States.

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 20

    2017-18Sophomore

    Guard
    6'6" 220 lbs
    20
  • 20

    2018-19Junior

    Guard
    6'6" 220 lbs
    20
  • 20

    2019-20Junior

    Guard
    6'7" 225 lbs
    20