20191204__DA46959_HDR

Nojel Eastern Season 2018-19

#20
PositionGUARD
Weight220 lbs
Height6-6
YearJunior
HometownEvanston, Ill.
2019-20
• Appeared in all 31 games with 27 starts, averaging 4.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, earning a spot on the Big Ten’s All-Defensive Team for the second straight year.
• Was typically given the task of guarding the other team's top offensive player at any of four positions. 
• Shot 42.0 percent from the field and 48.5 percent from the free throw line.
• Led the team in assists (85) and steals (33).
• Recorded four games of 10 or more points (14 vs. Maryland, Wisconsin and Illinois; 11 vs. Ohio).
• Had 11 games of four or more assists (8-3 record).
• Had 12 games of five or more rebounds (3-9 record).
• Started year by scoring at least eight points in just one of the first 16 games; scored at least eight points in seven of last 15 games.

2018-19 | Game-by-Game Statistics / Photo Gallery
• Eastern had a strong season, starting 35 of 36 games while averaging 7.5 points, a team-best 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
• Shot 49.5 percent from the field and 65.0 percent from the free throw line. After starting the year 3-of-12 from the stripe, he finished the year making 62 of his last 88 attempts (.705).
• Named to the Big Ten's All-Defensive Team after shutting down many outstanding perimeter players.
• Posted a team-best four double-doubles on the season (Minnesota, Nebraska, Michigan State, Indiana). 
• Tallied a career-high 15 points in a Homecoming game at Northwestern -- the game that clinched Purdue's 24th Big Ten Championship. 
• Scored 11 points with five rebounds, three assists and two steals in the Sweet 16 win over Tennessee.
• Had 14 points with six rebounds and six assists against Illinois.
• Posted an 89 / 51 (1.75) assist / turnover ratio, the second-best mark on the team. Had 20 games with one or fewer turnovers.

2017-18 / Game-by-Game Statistics
• Eastern appeared in all 37 games off the bench averaging 2.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 48.3 percent from the field.
• Ranked third on the team in offensive rebounds (37) despite playing the eighth-most minutes.
• Grabbed 10 rebounds in 24 minutes against Minnesota, the most for a guard in almost five years.
• Scored a career-high 11 points with six rebounds and a steal in the Big Ten Tournament championship game against Michigan.
• Dished out eight assists in 21 minutes in the season opener against SIU Edwardsville, the second most for a freshman in a season opener in school history. Also added eight points and five rebounds for a "statsheet stuffer" game, the second by a freshman in a season opener in school history (Chris Kramer).
• Sparked a second-half surge in a loss to Wisconsin, scoring seven points with two rebounds, two steals and an assist in 14 minutes.

HIGH SCHOOL
• A 4-star recruit according to ESPN.com, he was ranked as the 78th-best prospect in America and the 21st-best point guard nationally.
• Ranked a 4-star recruit and 73rd nationally by Rivals.com.
• Ranked a 4-star recruit and the 19th-best point guard nationally by Scout.com. "By adding Eastern, Purdue has one of the better classes in the Big Ten Conference".
• A 4-star recruit by 247Sports, ranked as the 59th-best player nationally.
• Called one of the "most unique and versatile perimeter players in the country" by ESPN, and a "playmaker with tremendous upside".
• Was 1-of-18 finalists for the USA Basketball U-17 team in the 2016 FIBA World Championships.
• Named to the 2015-16 USA Basketball men's junior national team in April 2015. Attended the 2015 USA Basketball U16 Training Camp, but was unable to participate due to injury.
• Participated in the 2014 USA Men's Junior National Team October minicamp.
• Named to the 2016 Chicago Sun Times All-Area first team.
• Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 3A/4A All-State first team (2016) and IBCA 3A/4A All-State second team (2015).
• As a junior in 2015-16 at Evanston Township, he averaged 14.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.0 BPG and 2.0 SPG in helping his team to a 23-6 record, an Illinois 4A Warren Regional championship and the Illinois Class 4A Glenbrook Sectional semifinals.Posted 25 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to help lead his team to a 53-39 victory over New Trier High School for the 2016 Central Suburban South title
• In 2014-15, he averaged 15.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 3.0 APG in leading his team to the Central Suburban League championship and an Illinois High School Association regional title.
• Owns a 6-foot-8 wingspan.
• Turned down offers from Michigan State, Ohio State, DePaul, Seton Hall, Iowa State, Northwestern, Missouri, Michigan and Illinois among others

PERSONAL
• Majoring in selling and sales management.
• Born May 26, 1999, in Chicago.
• Mother, Tamala Reed, played basketball, softball and volleyball at Chicago State.
• Away from the court, he enjoys writing poetry and studying the game of basketball.
• Before coming to Purdue, had never traveled outside the United States.
PU8_9618_FullRes

Junior
2019-20

GUARD
6-7 / 225 lbs
12881083

Sophomore
2017-18

GUARD
6-6 / 220 lbs