Big Ten hoops roundup: Iowa’s Bohannon, Nunge granted extra year of eligibility
Iowa City, Iowa — The Big Ten Conference has approved hardship waiver petitions for Iowa basketball players Jordan Bohannon and Jack Nunge, giving each an extra year of eligibility.
Iowa made the announcement Tuesday in a news release.
Bohannon, a 6-foot-1 guard, averaged 8.8 points and 3.3 assists in 10 games before undergoing season-ending surgery on his left hip in December. He had the same procedure on his right hip last May. The Marion, Iowa, native holds the Iowa record with 284 career 3-pointers made and enters his final season as a Hawkeye with career totals of 1,310 points, 504, assists, 250 rebounds and 82 steals.
Nunge, a 6-foot-11 forward, started five games as a sophomore last season before tearing the ACL in his right knee.
Freshman forward Patrick McCaffery’s hardship waiver is still under review.
Connor McCaffery received a waiver in 2018 and Cordell Pemsl received one in 2019.
Maryland adds 'Bama transfer
Maryland has signed forward Galin Smith, who appeared in 94 games over the past three seasons at Alabama.
The 6-foot-9 Smith has one year of eligibility remaining, effective immediately.
Smith had 20 starts with the Crimson Tide and shot 56% from the floor.
“Maryland fans can expect to see hunger, passion and effort from me every time I step foot on the court,” Smith said in a statement.
He can help fill the void left by the departure of forward Jalen Smith, who passed up his final two years of eligibility to enter the NBA draft.
“Galin is exactly what we were looking for in a veteran 5-man with great strength and size,” coach Mark Turgeon said. “He is an experienced post player who will help us right away. He can score and defend effectively in the low post and has the ability to get out on the break.”
Other newcomers for the Terps include Boston College transfer Jairus Hamilton and incoming freshmen Marcus Dockery and Aquan Smart.
Purdue's Eastern enters portal
First, Nojel Eastern entered his name in the NBA draft. Now the rising senior has put his name into the NCAA’s transfer portal.
Either way, it sounds as if the Purdue guard could become the second veteran in a month to leave the Boilermakers program after coach Matt Painter made the announcement. Center Matt Haarms announced in April that he would play his final season at Brigham Young.
Eastern played a key role for Purdue each of the past three seasons, initially off the bench as a freshman before starting each of the past two seasons. He developed a reputation as a defensive stopper, but his offensive game never quite materialized.
As a junior, Eastern averaged 4.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting just 42.0% from the field and 48.5% from the free-throw line.
He will have one year of eligibility remaining.