JaJuan Johnson has decided to return to Purdue for his senior season.
According to sources close to the situation, the 6-foot-10, 215-pound junior has gone back and forth on his decision whether to remain in the NBA Draft or return to school.
However, Johnson — whose return makes the Boilermakers legitimate national title contenders — made the decision in the last 24 hours to go back to school.
Johnson, according to several NBA executives, was a likely second-round pick in the June 24 NBA Draft.
Johnson averaged 15.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game last season. Both he and teammate E’Twaun Moore tested the NBA waters and decided to return to school and Robbie Hummel, who went down with a torn ACL towards the end of last season, is ahead of schedule with his rehab and expected to be 100 percent for the start of the season.
Purdue made the Sweet 16 without Hummel, but loses veteran guards Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant off last year’s team.
However, with the veteran trio of Hummel, Johnson and Moore, a healthy Lewis Jackson and the addition of a recruiting class that includes talented wing Terone Johnson, Purdue now becomes a legitimate Final Four — and maybe national championship — club.
