Israeli basketball star Omer Mayer has revealed details about the crucial conversation with Purdue guard Braden Smith that changed his college decision. As per sources, the 18-year-old guard rejected bigger money offers from Duke and Auburn to join the Boilermakers despite both schools presenting more lucrative deals than Purdue.
Mayer’s commitment was surprising, as he prioritized playing opportunities and team fit over financial benefits. In a recent interview, the Maccabi Tel Aviv player shared behind-the-scenes details of his recruitment journey, highlighting how modern college basketball recruiting works.
Braden Smith’s Personal Outreach Sealed Purdue Deal
Initially, Mayer had serious doubts about joining Purdue specifically because of Braden Smith’s presence on the roster. When Purdue coaches contacted his agent, Nadav Mor, just two hours after their March Madness elimination, Mayer was genuinely surprised by their immediate response.
“They lost in March Madness in a close game like a last-second shot against Houston if I’m not mistaken or Texas, I don’t remember,” Mayer recalled. “About two hours after that, I was already asleep. Then, around two hours later, they called Nadav.” He further said, “I told Nadav, like, wow, they just got kicked out a second ago. They already called.”
The timing impressed Mayer, but questions remained about his role. “You have the best point guard in America, why do you need me? I want to play,” he explained about his initial doubt.
Purdue’s pitch focused on their specific needs: “they absolutely need another shooter” and explained, “They have a lot of good players but no real playmaker.”
The breakthrough moment came through direct player contact. “Brendan himself messaged me on WhatsApp, wrote a nice message, and I thought, wow, they’re serious,” Mayer revealed. This showed Purdue’s genuine commitment to landing the Israeli guard.
The top prospect earned his reputation through impressive FIBA tournament performances, averaging 20.0 points per game at the 2025 U19 World Cup and 18.3 points at the 2024 U18 EuroBasket. At 17, he also broke records as Maccabi Tel Aviv’s youngest scorer, gaining crucial professional experience.
Financial Sacrifice Reveals Commitment to Winning Culture
Despite receiving more lucrative offers from Duke and Auburn, Mayer prioritized basketball fit over financial gain. According to sources, both programs offered more money than Purdue. Mayer did not know how much money he was going to make at Purdue as his agent and father handled negotiations without involving him in monetary discussions.
Duke’s connection to Mayer ran deeper than most programs as Jon Scheyer even played professionally for Maccabi creating a natural recruiting advantage. However, Purdue’s vision for Mayer’s role proved more compelling than Duke’s financial package.
Mayer said his connection with Smith is beyond basketball skills. “I feel like our playing styles are a bit similar, but more than that, I think we’re similar in character and stuff,” he explained. “That was important to me.”
The shared competitive mentality shows their championship aspirations for the 2025-26 season.
“We’re underdogs. Our goal for next year is ambitious, to go all the way,” Mayer stated, showing the championship mindset that attracted him to Purdue. This winning culture proved more valuable than financial incentives from other programs.
The guard outlined some ambitious timeline goals, saying he intends to “play 2 years at Purdue and then go pro,” while acknowledging that exceptional performance could accelerate those plans.
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Mayer’s arrival at Purdue means more than just another recruiting win. His choice to give up bigger money now for better development and championship chances shows how top international players are changing their priorities in college basketball.
