Caden Pierce is returning to his midwest roots for his final season of college basketball. The former Ivy League Player of the Year at Princeton has committed to Purdue for the 2026-27 season. The 6-foot-7 forward opted out of his senior season at Princeton so that he could finish his economics degr ee while maintaining his final year of eligibility. Boiler Up! @BoilerBall pic.twitter.com/Wv1xTLKfvq — Caden Pierce (@CadenPierce_3) February 13, 2026 Pierce had a who’s who of blue bloods chasing after him, including UConn, Duke, Gonzaga and Louisville, before choosing to join Matt Painter’s Boilermakers. Purdue, located in West Lafayette, Ind., is about two and half hours from his hometown of Glen Ellyn, Ill. His older brother Alec plays wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. “I went on all five visits, just looking for the place that felt most like home for one year for me,” Pierce told ESPN. “Purdue obviously has an unbelievable program that coach (Matt) Painter has built over the years. When I was on campus, with the coaches and with the guys, it felt like a great place for me. I wanted to be a part of that program. Mackey Arena is one of the best venues in college basketball, and I can be part of something special.” Pierce was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 and the Player of the Year in 2023-24 when he averaged 16.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. His numbers dipped slightly last season to 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists as he battled an ankle injury. He finished his three seasons on Old Nassau with 1,058 points, which is good for 31st in program history. ...read more read less