Matt Painter Strikes Again: Purdue Lands 7-Foot Isaiah Hill, No. 1 Center in 2027

Purdue's identity under Matt Painter has been built around towering centers anchoring the paint.

Over the last two decades, Painter leaned into the increasingly rare idea that elite college basketball can still be built around true 7-foot bigs rather than fully positionless lineups.

It started with AJ Hammons and Isaac Haas, two traditional post players who became All-Big Ten-level forces and NBA-caliber prospects, then continued with Matt Haarms and, most famously, Zach Edey, a lightly recruited 7-foot-4 project who developed into a back-to-back National Player of the Year and the centerpiece of Purdue's Final Four run.

Now, Painter has landed his latest addition with Isaiah Hill, Rivals’ No. 1-ranked center in the 2027 class, officially committing to Purdue on Friday.

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Starring at Pike High School in Indianapolis, Hill rapidly emerged as one of the most dominant defensive bigs in the 2027 class.

As a junior, he averaged 12.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per game, anchoring Pike's interior defense while flashing growing offensive polish around the rim and in short-roll situations.

He's also built a reputation on the EYBL circuit as an elite shot blocker, and is considered to have “one of the highest, and most translatable, ceilings in this class,” according to 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein.

Hill has already won the Marion County Player of the Year award and is Rivals’ No. 12 overall prospect in the country, reportedly choosing Purdue over Louisville and Florida State.

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Purdue enters the 2026–27 season with unusual continuity, returning 10 of 11 eligible players and keeping much of its core intact under Matt Painter.

The backcourt is anchored by C.J. Cox, Gicarri Harris, and Omer Mayer, a mix of shot creation, defensive toughness, and playmaking that gives Purdue stability on the perimeter.

In the frontcourt, Daniel Jacobsen and Raleigh Burgess headline the interior, with Jacobsen's 7-foot-4 frame providing rim protection and Burgess offering versatility as a developing stretch big.

Painter has also layered in new pieces, including a top-ranked 2026 class headlined by four-stars Sinan Huan (also a 7-foot center), Luke Ertel, and Jacob Webber.

The addition of Isaiah Hill provides Painter with a true elite center prospect who continues the Boilermakers long-running identity of building through size and rim protection.

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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 9:52 AM.