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November 11, 2009

Hale signs with Purdue

Senior center picks Boilers over IU, Kentucky, Xavier

By KEVIN HARRIS

The hot rumor around Southern Indiana the last few seasons has been that Donnie Hale would become a Purdue Boilermaker someday.

On Tuesday morning at New Albany High School, that rumor turned into reality.

Hale signed a national letter of intent to play for Purdue next season. The 6-foot-8 senior center picked the Boilers over Xavier, Kentucky and Indiana.

Hale will be joining a program that won the Big Ten Conference Tournament last season and is considered a frontrunner to win the Big Ten and reach the Final Four, which will be in Indianapolis, this season.

But, Hale said the Boilers’ accolades were not a determining factor in his decision.

“It’s really nice for me to be going to a successful college, but that wasn’t really a big deal,” he said. “It’s really nice to have that, but I was just really comfortable with the coaching staff and the players they have there.”

Purdue head coach Matt Painter has shown interest in Hale since the eighth grade when the Boiler boss saw the Bulldog star play in an AAU tournament.

“He’s been really interested in me since Day 1,” Hale said. “I think it’s a perfect fit. I feel really comfortable with them.”

New Albany head boys’ basketball coach Jim Shannon thinks Hale’s choice to play at Purdue is a wise one.

“I think it’s a really good choice for him,” Shannon said. “They are second-to-none academically. The basketball program is year-in, year-out in the top 10. They’ve made runs in the NCAA tournament. They’ve won numerous Big Ten championships, and Matt Painter is obviously one of the brightest young coaches in the Big Ten Conference.”

Last season, Hale averaged a double-double (19.7 points and 10 rebounds) and blocked four shots per contest. He was named The Evening News and Tribune Area Player of the Year and made The Associated Press All-State third team.

In a statement on purduesports.com, Painter said Hale’s versatility will be a huge asset for the Boilers.

“Donnie Hale is probably a face-up forward in college,” Painter said. “He can play inside or outside, he can shoot the ball from 3-point range and he can drive the ball. He’s had to post up a lot for his high school team, so we’re getting a very versatile player. His strengths lie in running the court and causing matchup problems, as well as being a shot blocker on the defensive end.

“As he continues to develop physically, his game will continue to grow.”

Now with his college choice out of the way, Hale can concentrate on his senior season at New Albany. The Bulldogs enter the 2009-10 campaign with a 43-game regular-season winning streak. They also have won three consecutive Hoosier Hills Conference titles and three straight Class 4A Seymour Sectional championships.

“Now, I can focus on this year and hopefully win a state championship,” he said. “I’m looking forward to another great season. We’ll do our best.”

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