Purdue C A.J. Hammons suspended for three games
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
A.J. Hammons doesn’t have it all together just yet.
Purdue’s talented 7-foot center has been suspended for a violation of team rules, coach Matt Painter said Monday during a teleconference.
Hammons will miss Purdue’s exhibition games against Indianapolis on Oct. 30 and Wayne State (Neb.) on Nov. 4, and the regular-season opener against Northern Kentucky on Nov. 8.
“A.J. has been suspended for the first three games of this season for conduct not representative of this program or university,” Painter said. “We expect the young men in our program to meet certain standards, and they must be held accountable when those standards are not met.”
Hammons is considered one of the nation’s most talented big men. He is coming off one of the best freshman seasons in Purdue history, when he averaged 10.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He scored 30 points in a loss to Indiana last season while primarily being guarded by Cody Zeller, who became a lottery pick in the NBA Draft.
Hammons also disappeared at times after his breakout game, and he’s still having issues with focus. Painter said Hammons has improved in some areas, but when asked what his starting lineup would be if a game was played Monday, Terone Johnson was the only player he would commit to as a clear pick.
Painter said Hammons’ suspension has added a wrinkle to the competition for the starting center spot.
“Jay Simpson, Travis Carroll – yeah, they’re going to be able to play more minutes to start the season and try to establish themselves,” Painter said.
Painter said Hammons has to be careful not to put his NBA aspirations ahead of his immediate goals.
“He looks like an NBA player, but it’s a process,” Painter said. “Let’s go to an NCAA Tournament. Let’s compete for a Big Ten title. Let’s keep our focus on the now. And I think if you do those things and you stay consistent, those things will happen for you. People want to conversate about the projection and what could happen, instead of saying, ‘You know what, let’s win today. Let’s go to class today, let’s meet with our tutors, let’s do everything we’re supposed to do, let’s give other people the benefit of the doubt and treat others with respect and keep it that simple.’ And when that happens, that’s when you see really talented people take off.”
Painter said he hopes Hammons learns from his mistakes.
“When something happens like this, you’ve not only let your teammates down, you’ve let yourself down. If you have some pride, you’re going to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Painter and Hammons will not comment further on the suspension.
