Haarms to transfer to BYU from Purdue, play senior season in 2020-21

PROVO, Utah – BYU men’s basketball coach Mark Pope announced today that 7-foot-3 center Matt Haarms will transfer from Purdue to play for the Cougars in 2020-21. Haarms will graduate from Purdue in political science this spring and be eligible to play as a senior in 2020-21.

“No words can express how excited we are to welcome Matt to our BYU family,” Pope said. “Clearly with his size, athletic ability, versatility and skill set he has the potential to emerge as one of the premier bigs in college basketball. His passion for the game and intensity on the court are inspiring. There’s a reason he was one of the most sought-after transfers this offseason. And most important, he is one of the most intelligent, engaging, self-aware and giving players I have ever met. BYU fans are going to love this Matt Haarms. He has an extraordinarily bright future in the game.” 

From Amsterdam, Netherlands, Haarms was one of the best rim protectors and most efficient post players in the Big Ten in his three seasons at Purdue. In 2019-20, Haarms averaged 8.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while ranking fifth in the Big Ten with 2.0 blocks per game.

As a sophomore in 2018-19, Haarms led the Big Ten in blocks with 2.1 per game and field goal percentage at 63.2. He also added career-best averages of 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds while helping the Boilermakers finish with a record of 26-10 and advance to the Elite Eight of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. In Purdue’s four NCAA Tournament games, Haarms averaged 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while shooting 65.6 percent from the field.

During his freshman campaign in 2017-18, Haarms averaged 4.8 points and 3.2 rebounds and was second in the Big Ten at 2.1 blocks per game. He helped Purdue advance to the Sweet 16 in the 2018 NCAA Tournament and finish with a record of 30-7. Haarms earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Academic Team that season.

In three seasons at Purdue, Haarms played in 102 games with 40 starts and averaged 7.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. Haarms leaves Purdue fourth all-time in school history with 210 blocks and sixth in career field goal percentage at 58.2. He owns career highs of 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks.

Before Purdue, Haarms spent one year at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas and played for the U-18 Dutch National Team. He joins freshman Hunter Erickson (a returned missionary from Timpview High School) and junior college transfers Gideon George (New Mexico Junior College) and Spencer Johnson (Salt Lake Community College) as newcomers to the 2020-21 BYU men’s basketball roster. The Cougars have also signed Dallin Hall (Fremont High School) and Richie Saunders (Wasatch Academy) from the class of 2020. They both plan to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before enrolling at BYU.