Having recently announced his intention to transfer from N.C. State to UConn, Purvis will sit out all of next season after an inconsistent freshman year.
A key member of last summer's undefeated U18 FIBA Americas championship team, Purvis did not make it past the first round of cuts this time, seemingly looking like he's at a serious crossroad at his point of his career. Overdribbling for long stretches, taking bad shots, turning the ball over and struggling to make his presence felt defensively, Purvis could not exhibit his considerable talent in a consistent fashion as he continues to be plagued by bad habits and poor fundamentals. His inconsistent perimeter shot was a major hindrance to his chances of making the roster, as his flawed mechanics did not do him any favors in trying to establish himself a threat without the ball in his hands, while his poor decision making made it difficult for him to operate as a ball-dominant lead guard like he was accustomed to at the high school level.
Despite the seemingly harsh criticism, Purvis nevertheless demonstrated the significant talent-level that made him a top-10 recruit in high school and one of the most sought over players in the nation just a year ago. He's a superior athlete, is outstanding in transition, and possesses excellent scoring instincts to go along with his strong physical attributes. A year off under the tutelage of former NBA point guard Kevin Ollie may be exactly what the doctor ordered for this very talented combo guard, as he'll have to work extremely hard on his unconventional shooting mechanics and try to improve his knowledge of the game as much as possible to make up for lost time once he does step back on the court 18 months from now.
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