Sophomore Returns to Purdue Basketball with Secret Weapon After FIBA U19 Gold Triumph

It was a return to game action for Jacobsen, who suffered a broken tibia in the first minute of his second game at Purdue in November. His presence around the rim as a shot blocker at 7 foot 4 will be key for Purdue, which added transfer Oscar Cluff to pair alongside Trey Kaufman-Renn. Jacobsen figures to play off the bench with transfer Liam Murphy.

• Daniel Jacobsen will return to West Lafayette with a gold medal, and Purdue teammate Omer Mayer saw his stock rise during the FIBA U19 World Cup.

Get IndyStar’s Purdue coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Boiler Update newsletter.Daniel Jacobsen represented the Boilermakers as part of USA Basketball‘s entry into the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Switzerland. Jacobsen finished with eight points, two rebounds and a block in 15 minutes as the U.S. beat Germany 109-76 for the gold medal Sunday.Still, Jacobsen averaged 6.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 14.1 minutes per contest during the seven-game tournament.Purdue basketball will have a gold medalist when it begins the 2025-26 season.When the spotlight hits Purdue basketball, few stories shine brighter than one about resilience and redemption — and Daniel Jacobsen’s journey epitomizes just that. After a brutal setback—a broken tibia in just his second collegiate game—the towering sophomore didn’t just bounce back; he triumphed on the global stage, clutching a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Switzerland. At a staggering 7-foot-4, Jacobsen’s return isn’t merely about height; it’s a symbol of grit, athleticism, and a fierce will to dominate inside the paint. Alongside him, teammate Omer Mayer carved his own niche, dazzling scouts and fans alike with a polished game that hints at an NBA future. As Purdue gears up for the 2025-26 season, these two young men bring not only talent but glory to West Lafayette—setting the stage for what promises to be an electrifying chapter in Boilermaker basketball history. LEARN MORE

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Omer Mayer shines at FIBA U19 World Cup

The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder figures to complement All-American point guard Braden Smith.

Regardless of what Jacobsen did, it was going to be difficult to outshine his Purdue teammate, Omer Mayer of Israel. While Mayer and his country exited earlier than the U.S., he had many impressed with his game. Some said the 18-year-old was already a NBA talent, and other simply recognized how polished he was.

His four-game tournament totals (Israel won a group stage game by forfeit) were 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2 steals per game. He did have 3 turnovers per contest, escalated by six in the loss to Slovenia. He shot 43.1% from the floor and was 13 for 34 (38.4%) on 3-pointers.Jacobsen had a tournament-best 15 points and five blocks in a Round of 16 win over Jordan. He had nine rebounds against Cameroon in the group phase. He struggled though against a Canadian team with size in the semifinals and only played five minutes.