Former Purdue signee Kanon Catchings, a consensus top 40 2o24 recruit, told Joe Tipton of On3 earlier today that he is planning three upcoming visits. Catching secured his release from Purdue on June 6.
Catchings told Tipton that he wants to visit Tennessee, Florida State, and BYU.
Basketball Hall Of Fame Nephew, A Top-40 2024 Recruit, Plans On Taking A Couple Trio Of Visits
Catchings signed with Purdue on Nov. 8. The 6-9 small forward from Brownsburg (Ind.) played for Overtime Elite in his final prep season after spending the previous three years at Brownsburg High School. He was the Boilermaker’s highest-rated recruit of Matt Painter’s six-player 2024 class and had been committed to the Boilermakers since 2022.
Catchings averaged 24.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game last season for OTE. He shot 54.5% from the floor and 36.2% from beyond the arc.
So, why did Catchings seek his release?
It appears it had to do with a numbers crunch that Purdue was facing. According to Kyle Austin of Mlive.com, Catchings’ departure brings the Boilermakers to the NCAA maximum of 13 enrolled scholarship players.
“Kanon has asked for his release from his scholarship, and we have granted him that request,” Painter said in a release. “We wish him luck in his future endeavors.”
Catchings is a consensus four-star recruit. He was No. 30 in Rivals 2024 rankings, No. 35 by ESPN and No. 38 by 247Sports. Meanwhile, On3 had him at No. 47.
Catchings is long, athletic, and has mad hops. He also has an impressive basketball lineage.
Catchings’ mother, Tajuana Catchings, played for Illinois, where she scored over 1400 points and was a third-round pick in the 2000 WNBA draft. His aunt, Tamika Catchings, a legendary player at Tennessee and in the WNBA, is in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. His grandfather, Harvey Catchings, appeared in 725 career NBA games.
Here is more about Catchings game by 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finklestein:
“Catchings is a late-blooming, versatile forward who could be just scratching the surface of his long-term upside. He has multi-dimensional tools that include size, athleticism, ball-skills, and potential positional versatility. He’s a fluid mover for his size, who covers the court with long, bouncy strides. He not only plays above the rim athletically, but shows glimpses of quick reactions tied to that leaping ability, even as a weak-side shot-blocker. He has the foundation for a versatile skill set as well. He has good natural touch and is currently a capable three-point shooter with the potential to make that a developing weapon in the years to come.
He puts the ball on the floor comfortably, but is much more effective attacking a defender that is already on the move, rather than trying to create an advantage with his first step. Catchings is a combo-forward of sorts, who may be more four than three at this point, but has the potential to evolve into a true big wing. Physically, he’s still lean and often unable to play through contact, and yet still in the very earliest stages of filling out his frame.”
Looking At The School’s Catchings Plans To Visit
Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee has won at least 25 games in the last three seasons. The Volunteers have also made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2023 and the Elite 8 in 2024.
Tennessee lost four key contributors from last year, including leading rebounder Jonas Aidoo who transferred to Arkansas. However, Rick Barnes has done an excellent job replacing the players he lost with five transfers led by Chaz Lanier.
The Volunteers have two scholarships available.
Florida State Seminoles
Leonard Hamilton saw massive player departures following FSU’s disappointing 2023-24 campaign, in which they went 17-16 and finished eighth in the ACC with a 10-10 record. While the Seminoles have posted a winning record in three of the last four seasons, they have not garnered more than 18 victories.
FSU did get a coup with the recent return of Jamir Watkins. The Seminoles have brought in seven newcomers, including fellow Overtime Elite graduate Daquan Davis, and they still have four scholarships available.
According to JD McCarthy of USA Today College Sports Wire, FSU has not offered Catchings a scholarship, but McCarthy said that could change once he takes his visit.
BYU Cougars
BYU has a new head coach, former NBA assistant Kevin Young , and Catchings reportedly has a connection with assistant coach Tim Fanning, per Casey Lundquist of Cougs Daily. Fanning coached Catchings at Overtime Elite.
It appears the Cougars have one scholarship remaining.
