Nojel Eastern

Nojel Imani Eastern (born May 26, 1999) is an American college basketball player for the Howard Bison of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). He previously played for the Purdue Boilermakers.

Nojel Eastern
Eastern with Purdue in February 2020
Howard Bison
PositionPoint guard / Shooting guard
LeagueMid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Personal information
Born (1999-05-26) May 26, 1999
Chicago, Illinois
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolEvanston Township
(Evanston, Illinois)
College
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× Big Ten All-Defensive Team (2019, 2020)
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
Summer Universiade
2017 Taipei Team

Early life

Eastern's first name, Nojel, is an ananym of his father's name, Lejon. He was raised by his mother, Tamala Reed, who worked for the Chicago Transit Authority. Eastern had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder since his youth. Even though his mother worked in Chicago, he attended school in Evanston, Illinois due to the district's superior academics. From fourth to eighth grade, Eastern lived with Travis Ransom, a family friend.[1]

High school career

Eastern played four years of varsity basketball for Evanston Township High School in Evanston. As a sophomore, he averaged 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and three assists per game, leading his team to the Central Suburban League South championship and a Class 4A regional title.[2] In April 2015, Eastern dislocated his left ankle and fractured two bones in it during an Amateur Athletic Union game, before undergoing surgery.[3] In his junior season, he averaged 14.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists per game, helping Evanston Township win Central Suburban South and Class 4A regional titles.[4] As a senior, Eastern averaged 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game and was named Pioneer Press All-Area Player of the Year.[5] He was the runner-up to Mark Smith for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award.[6]

Recruiting

On November 16, 2016, Eastern committed to play college basketball for Purdue over offers from Michigan State, Ohio State, DePaul and Seton Hall, among others. He was drawn to Purdue because of its coaching staff and its proximity.[7] Eastern was considered a consensus four-star recruit by major recruiting services.[8]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Nojel Eastern
SG		 Evanston, IL Evanston Township (IL) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 207 lb (94 kg) Nov 16, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 83
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 77  247Sports: 59  ESPN: 84
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Purdue 2017 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  • "2017 Purdue Boilermakers Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.

    College career

    Purdue
    Eastern defended by Brandon Johns of Michigan in February 2020

    As a freshman at Purdue, Eastern averaged 2.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in the role of a defensive specialist off the bench.[8][9] After the season, he declared for the 2018 NBA draft without hiring an agent, before withdrawing from the draft.[10] On March 9, 2019, Eastern scored a career-high 15 points in a 70–57 win over Northwestern.[11] In his sophomore season, he became a regular starter and averaged 7.5 points, a team-high 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game, earning Big Ten Conference All-Defensive honors. Eastern became the first Purdue point guard to lead the team in rebounding since at least 1954.[12] By the time he was a junior, he became Purdue's top defender, with the ability to guard all five positions.[13] As a junior, Eastern averaged 4.9 points, four rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, earning Big Ten All-Defensive accolades for a second time. He led his team in assists and steals.[8] Following the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft.[14] On May 12, 2020, Eastern announced that he would transfer from Purdue.[15] Two days later, he committed to Michigan for his senior season.[16] However, on June 17, Eastern announced that he would not play for Michigan after he was unable to clear the admission to the school.[17]

    Howard

    On August 6, 2020, Eastern committed to continue his career at Howard.[18]

    National team career

    Eastern and his Purdue teammates represented the United States at the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei. He averaged 5.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 14.5 minutes per game, helping his team win the silver medal.[19][20]

    Career statistics
    Legend
      GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
     FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
     RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
     BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

    College
    Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
    2017–18 Purdue 37012.6.483.333.4172.51.1.6.12.9
    2018–19 Purdue 363528.2.495.000.6505.52.51.1.37.5
    2019–20 Purdue 312725.5.420.000.4854.02.71.1.24.9
    Career 1046221.8.466.188.5584.02.0.9.25.1

    References
    1. Cardi, Julia (July 13, 2016). "Chasing Nojel". Medill Reports. Northwestern University. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
    2. Harness, Matt (March 31, 2015). "Evanston's Nojel Eastern makes All-Area Boys Basketball Second Team". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
    3. Harness, Matt (May 5, 2015). "Coaches don't think injury will affect recruitment of Nojel Eastern". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
    4. Mahoney, Dennis (March 5, 2016). "Eastern's clutch play lifts Wildkits to regional title". Evanston Now. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
    5. Shalin, Dan (March 29, 2017). "All-Area Boys Basketball First Team: Nojel Eastern, Evanston". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
    6. Larkin, Will (March 21, 2017). "Edwardsville's Mark Smith named Mr. Basketball; Rock Island's Brea Beal is Ms. Basketball". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
    7. Narang, Bob (November 16, 2016). "Nojel Eastern picks Purdue because of coaches, proximity to home". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
    8. "Nojel Eastern". Purdue University Athletics. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
    9. Baird, Nathan (November 17, 2018). "As Nojel Eastern continues to prove himself, Purdue basketball's potential rises". Journal & Courier. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
    10. Osipoff, Michael (July 14, 2018). "Evanston grad Nojel Eastern 'living in the moment' at Purdue after NBA draft process". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
    11. "Edwards scores 21, No. 11 Purdue beats Northwestern 70–57". ESPN. Associated Press. March 9, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
    12. Baird, Nathan (March 7, 2019). "Purdue's unconventional, invaluable Nojel Eastern returns home with championship at stake". Journal & Courier. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
    13. Glaspie, Akeem (January 3, 2020). "Nojel Eastern's winning plays are contagious for Purdue basketball". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
    14. Carmin, Mike (April 26, 2020). "Purdue basketball's Nojel Eastern submits name in NBA Draft". Journal & Courier. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
    15. Douglas, Brett (May 12, 2020). "Breaking News: Nojel Eastern Enters Transfer Portal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
    16. Borzello, Jeff (May 14, 2020). "Purdue transfer Nojel Eastern headed to Michigan". ESPN. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
    17. Cobb, David (June 17, 2020). "Purdue transfer Nojel Eastern no longer heading to Michigan after being denied admission". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
    18. "Nojel Eastern, a P5 transfer, lands at Howard". HBCU Gameday. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
    19. Jacobson, Jake (October 2, 2017). "Purdue Men's Basketball: International tournament reinforces veteran experience". Purdue Exponent. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
    20. "Getting to Know: Nojel Eastern". Purdue University Athletics. October 9, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
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