Prospect Watch: DJ Purnell (2018)
If you play at Park Center you face a difficult slate of games. Some guys can’t handle it but a senior like DeAngelo “DJ” Purnell welcomes a challenge.
“Things are going pretty good for us as a team,” Purnell said. “There’s a lot of things that we can improve on but by the time playoffs come we’ll be fine.”
The Pirates have impressive wins over Minnetonka, Wayzata, Edina, and Woodbury, all squads that have been ranked. The Pirates have losses against Minnehaha Academy, Apple Valley, and last night to Osseo, all in close games. The “easier games” were against solid teams from St. Louis Park and Maple Grove.
When you scan that schedule you have to believe it’s one of the three or four toughest in the state of Minnesota.
Purnell is one of four double figure averaging players for the Pirates as he’s scoring ten a game plus playing several roles.
“I’m doing better offensively,” DJ said. “I’m more confident in everything I do now passing, dribbling and shooting I’ve improved a lot on.
“Defensively my defense has gotten a lot better because during 17U season I had to guard small guards so I move my feet a little better than from past years. The way I play it has improved a lot but there’s a lot of things I can still improve on.”
Competing with Jarius Cook, Khari Broadway, Dain Dainja, and Tommy Chatman, Purnell is a part of a physical line-up that is both talented and physical.
“In terms of talent we have one of the best teams in the state,” Purnell said. “There’s a lot of guys that have to step up and play a bigger role than they had from last year including myself. We expect to go as far as possible and we think that is a State title.”
With the talent the Pirates have they are one of the teams deep enough to make a March run which is the obvious goal of Purnell.
“My individual goal is to get to the next level which is college and to improve on everything I need to get there,” DJ said. “For our team the goal is to no matter what stick with each other and try to go as far as possible.”
As he said Purnell wants to play at the college level.
“I have a few colleges looking at me, D2 colleges as well as D1 junior colleges as well. I haven’t planned any college visits yet.”