BTN Analyst Sets High Bar for Purdue 2027 Commits Isaiah Hill, Kevin Savage

Isaiah Hill and Kevin Savage won't arrive at Purdue for another year, but there are already high expectations for the 2027 commits.

Pike Red Devils Isaiah Hill (30) celebrates a basket. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

During the summer months, Purdue may have had some of its biggest recruiting wins under head coach Matt Painter. In May, the Boilermakers landed four-star center and Indianapolis native Isaiah Hill, the highest-rated commit in program history. In early July, Georgia point guard Kevin Savage III announced his commitment to play in West Lafayette.

With two commitments in the 2027 recruiting class, the Boilermakers currently have the second-best class of the cycle, behind only Iowa State. Those pledges in the summer months created a lot of excitement about the future of the basketball program.

Big Ten Network analyst and former Purdue star Rapheal Davis is just one of many who have high expectations for those two future Boilermakers. In a recent appearance with the League Ready podcast, Davis spoke of the potential both players have when they get to West Lafayette next summer.

Kevin Savage III, point guard

Wheeler Wildcats guard Kevin Savage III. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Savage announced his commitment to Purdue during a live video stream on July 5. When the four-star guard announced his commitment, the Boilermakers catapulted to the top of the recruiting rankings for the 2027 class.

The Georgia native is an elite scorer and also has tremendous ball-handling skills. Davis compared his scoring ability to one popular former Boilermaker.

"Savage is a hooper," Davis said. "His quickness, speed, the handles, his shot-making ability is Carsen Edwards-like. He can play-make at a high level with the best of them. To me, and this is saying a lot, but out of high school, I think he's going to be Paint's best guard out of high school."

Davis didn't suggest that Savage will be the best guard Purdue has ever had — though it's certainly a possibility. He does believe that Savage is the best point guard Painter has recruited out of high school, though.

If there are no transfers from Purdue's 2026-27 roster, Savage would be a third point guard, alongside Omer Mayer and Luke Ertel.

Isaiah Hill, center

Pike Red Devils Isaiah Hill (30) celebrates a play. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Hill is another four-star talent in the 2027 recruiting class and a candidate to win Indiana's Mr. Basketball award in his senior season at Pike High School. He'll join the growing list of talented 7-footers to play at Purdue. He committed to play for the Boilermakers in May.

When talking about Hill, Davis compared him to former Big Ten Player of the Year JaJuan Johnson.

"You see so many different versions of Isaiah Hill. The best version of him, he could be one of the better centers to come through Purdue, and that's saying a lot," Davis said. "You get a hard-working guy, a dude who wants to be in the gym, who loves the game.

"You look at his body type, right away you think of JaJuan Johnson. You watch him shoot the basketball, and, back then, JaJuan Johnson was shooting the basketball from around 15 or 17 feet and it was really effective," he said. "You look at Isaiah Hill, he has the mechanics and the tools to be able to stretch his game out to the three-point line."

Hill will be a center who joins a crowded frontcourt in West Lafayette. Currently, the Boilermakers have seven-footers Daniel Jacobsen and Sinan Huan on the roster. Raleigh Burgess, who stands 6-foot-11, is also capable of playing the five.

What impact with Hill and Savage have at Purdue?

Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter reacts to a call. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It's far too early to truly evaluate the type of impact Hill and Savage could have on Purdue's program. Plus, there are multiple factors outside of their control. Will the Boilermakers return a bulk of their roster from this season? How crowded are the two positions they'll play?

To Davis's point, though, Hill and Savage both bring elite skills to West Lafayette. Hill is a talented shot-blocker and a player who can capitalize in the post. He's also demonstrated an ability to knock down jumpers from the perimeter.

Savage is a quick guard who can score at every level. He can take defenders off the dribble and gets to the basket well. He's also a skilled passer and can be a fiesty defender.

We won't know how those two can impact Purdue for quite some time, Davis has a lot of confidence in both players about their college careers and beyond.

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