Michigan grad transfer Albrecht to visit Purdue
Spike Albrecht's family didn't exactly grow up Purdue fans, although their Crown Point home is only 80 miles away and the school's name adorns his father's diploma.
Yet Chuck Albrecht, who played at Purdue-Calumet, loved Gene Keady and said the family has always respected the Boilermaker program. He remembers watching other northwestern Indiana stars such as East Chicago Washington's Drake Morris and Andrean's Brandon Brantley, a current Purdue assistant. Spike Albrecht knew the Boilermakers through region standouts Robbie Hummel and E'Twaun Moore.
Spike Albrecht, who starred in the Final Four for Michigan before hip injuries ended his senior season, is considering Purdue as the final destination of his college career. Chuck Albrecht confirmed the family will visit Purdue on Wednesday and Thursday for the graduate transfer's first official visit.
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"Purdue’s a little over an hour away, so we know the program real well," said Chuck Albrecht, who played at Purdue-Calumet. "Matt Painter, we think he’s one of the best coaches in the country. That's something I'm sure that’s interested spike. Being in the Big Ten is another huge thing I know Spike’s probably considered, and being close to home makes a big difference."
Chuck Albrecht said Purdue is the only official visit currently scheduled, though his son is talking with several other teams, including Indiana. He said a Wichita State assistant coach visited Spike in Ann Arbor on Tuesday.
"I know Spike doesn’t want to rush into anything," Chuck Albrecht said. "He wants to make a couple of visits for sure for comparison reasons."
Albrecht, a 5-foot-11 point guard, was Michigan's co-Team MVP in 2014-15 and made the Final Four All-Tournament team in 2012-13. He is a 39.9 percent career 3-point shooter and averaged 7.5 points and 3.9 assists against 1.3 turnovers as a junior.
Albrecht played only eight games this past season before accepting he had not recovered from surgery to correct a genetic hip condition. He can immediately use his one remaining year of eligibility. Even in a one-year scenario, interested teams will do their due diligence regarding Albrecht's health.
Chuck Albrecht said his son is working out daily and the family is prepared to provide documentation of recent medical tests, including MRIs, to interested programs. Teams are allowed to conduct a medical examination of prospective student athletes on an official visit.
"I don’t know that he’s 'all the way back,' but he’s getting pretty close," Chuck Albrecht said. "He works out on a daily basis. Michigan’s been awesome. He gets to use the facilities. He trains on his own, basically, because he's not doing stuff with the team, but coach (John) Beilein lets him come in and play with the guys.
"He has a final doctor's appointment in the next couple of weeks. Once they see that he’ll be good to go."
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Chuck Albrecht downplayed any perception of friction at Michigan, where Belein first refused to allow Albrecht to transfer within the conference but later relented. The bulk of the Wolverines' point guard minutes next season will go to senior-to-be Derrick Walton, Jr., and incoming freshman Xavier Simpson.
Purdue returns P.J. Thompson at point guard and adds freshman Carsen Edwards later this summer.
"Purdue fits the personality he’s looking for," Chuck Albrecht said. "Obviously it's the Big Ten, great coaching, great fan base, close to home. They're going to be very good with or without Spike.
"Obviously he wants to play, and Purdue wouldn’t be recruiting him if it didn't think he could play. He played all kinds of roles at Michigan. He doesn't have to start."