Former Purdue Players Debut With New Teams

Five former Purdue players opened the 2026-27 college basketball season with their new schools, several posting strong early numbers.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a basketball player mid-dribble on a polished court, rendered in bold crimson and royal blue brushwork. — Five former Purdue players opened the 2026-27 season with new schools, with Trey Kaufman-Renn scoring nine points in Kansas's 95-65 win over Fordham. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Trey Kaufman-Renn scored nine points for Kansas in a 95-65 win over Fordham, while Will Berg posted 26 points and 16 rebounds for Wichita State in a 79-67 victory over Cal State Northridge. The opening week marked the season debuts of several transfers from the Purdue program.

Why it matters

The early performances offer a first look at how Purdue transfers are adjusting to new rotations across the country. Their production in the season's opening week shapes early roster expectations for their new programs.

Will Berg recorded 26 points and 16 rebounds for Wichita State in a 79-67 win over Cal State Northridge, while Camden Heide shot 5-of-9 for 13 points in South Carolina's 81-55 opener over Stetson. Sample sizes from one game are too small to establish season trends.

The players

Trey Kaufman-Renn

Kaufman-Renn is a forward who transferred from Purdue to Kansas and was a key contributor for the Boilermakers before the move.

Will Berg

Berg is a forward who transferred from Purdue to Wichita State and produced a double-double in his debut for the Shockers.

The details

Kaufman-Renn came off the bench for Kansas and logged 23 minutes in a 95-65 win over Fordham. Heide earned a starting job at South Carolina, and Myles Colvin added seven rebounds for Cincinnati in a 79-53 win over American.

Opening week of the 2026-27 college basketball season, with games played in early November 2026.

Season Trajectory

The transfer portal has made roster movement between programs a regular feature of the college basketball calendar, and the early results from these Purdue transfers add a data point to that trend. Their opening-week output will factor into how their new programs are evaluated as the season develops.

Kaufman-Renn's bench role at Kansas and Heide's starting spot at South Carolina give fantasy and bracket followers a clearer read on each player's early role. Those roles will shape how much production these transfers offer in the weeks ahead.

The takeaway

Early roles and minutes often signal where a transfer will fit in a new rotation. Watching how Kaufman-Renn's bench minutes evolve will show whether he moves into a starting spot as projected.