WEST LAFAYETTE − The question two seasons ago for Purdue basketball was whether or not to redshirt the versatile frontcourt presence Raleigh Burgess.
Boilermaker coach Matt Painter opted to utilize Burgess’ ability to stretch defenses and add depth to the frontcourt.
There was no such dilemma last season.
Burgess was returning from offseason surgery for a stress fracture and with Purdue feeling good about its options at both power forward and center, preserving a year of eligibility while Burgess could get back to full strength made sense.
The decision seems to be paying off for the Boilermakers now, who need depth at the 4 and 5 positions. Burgess can help with both.
“We have a lot of options, a lot of flexibility to play different lineups, to play smaller, to play bigger,” Painter said after a June 9 practice. “Raleigh is kind of that piece in there. He’s the one who can play both.”
After spending a full season as a headache for the Boilermakers during practices as a scout team player, Burgess now brings something of a rarity among redshirt returnees.
He has 31 games of experience, albeit averaging less than seven minutes per game as a true freshman during the 2024-25 season.
Despite the limited experience, Burgess showed his abilities shooting 53.5%, including 40% from 3-point range.
Last season’s role as a practice player who wasn’t going to see the floor on game days eased the stress on a young player.
“You just went into the games with a different mindset. It gave me a new perspective last year,” Burgess said. “I thought that was really good. I think I learned a lot. Knowing I wasn’t going to play was kind of fun to be honest, knowing exactly what I was going to do and get my guys ready to go.”
Already emerging as one of Purdue’s few vocal presences during early summer workouts, Burgess now will factor much more than he has over two seasons into game plans.
“He had a great past year of working hard,” Purdue center Daniel Jacobsen said of Burgess. “His mentality is one of the best, and his energy that he brings every day, positivity and how hard he works.”
With Jacobsen and freshman Sinan Huan as the team’s lone centers as of now, Burgess will be relied upon heavily as an under-the-basket force at times.
He’ll also challenge Princeton transfer Caden Pierce, along with returnee Jack Benter and freshman Rivers Knight for playing time at forward, given Burgess ability to shoot while measuring in at 6-11 and 245 pounds.
It’s a role Burgess envisioned having when he committed to Purdue from Sycamore High School in Cincinnati. Knowing the departures of Trey Kaufman-Renn, Oscar Cluff and Liam Murphy would come following Burgess’ redshirt season, it’s also something he was prepping for during a full season where he didn’t play a single game.
“Sometimes you get guys that sit out and they don’t benefit from that year quite like they should. It’s hard,” Painter said. “It is hard to stay motivated when there’s no game in front of you. He worked really hard defensively.
“He got a lot of reps on the defensive end. Offensively he was doing regular scout team stuff. He would be the biggest guy on the court where he could stretch teams out. He’s going to have a good opportunity.”
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Raleigh Burgess ready for bigger role at Purdue
