For most 19-year-olds, summer break typically means sleeping in, hanging out with friends, and getting a part-time job for some extra spending money.
Daniel Jacobsen is not spending his time away from school like a typical teenager.
The 7-foot-4 Purdue big man is devoting his summer to playing for the United States in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland. Through Wednesday, the Americans remain undefeated in four games, with a margin of victory of more than 44 points.
In their most recent game on Wednesday, a 140-67 thrashing of Jordan in the round of 16, Jacobsen scored 15 points, grabbed five rebounds, and swatted away five shots in 20 minutes of action.
Those numbers are spectacular in their own right, but they have Boilermaker fans downright giddy that their center is ready and raring to go in 2025.
During the first minute of his second game as a Boilermaker vs. Northern Kentucky on November 8, Jacobsen crumpled to the floor with a broken leg. High hopes that he could be the second coming of Purdue legend Zach Edey and lead the Boilers back to the Final Four were dashed in an instant.
The injury forced Jacobsen to miss the remainder of the season, but he used his convalescence time to learn from his veteran teammates and get his slender 220-pound frame stronger. From the time of his injury to now, he estimates he has put on about 30 pounds of muscle.
His road back was arduous and challenging, but through diligent rehabilitation and painstaking perseverance, Jacobsen earned a coveted spot on this year’s national squad. From the looks of the first three games, he is taking advantage of this prestigious opportunity.
To open World Cup play, the United States defeated Australia 88-73. Jacobsen started for Team USA on Saturday, scoring two points, grabbing three rebounds, and blocking a shot in the victory. All of his contributions came in the first half, and he played just over eight minutes in his first game action since his injury.
In their second game, the Americans ran past France, 108-77. While he did not start, Jacobsen’s minutes increased to just under 12, and he rewarded his teammates by scoring six points and hauling in four rebounds.
Cameroon was the outmatched opponent next on Team USA’s list. The Americans took it to them, 129-70, and Jacobsen’s productivity progressed, scoring seven points and securing a team-high nine rebounds.
Up next for the United States is a quarterfinal matchup against Canada on Friday, July 4.
With the return of seniors-to-be Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Fletcher Loyer and a successful recruiting effort, the Purdue Boilermakers are the sexy pick by many national pundits to cut down the nets in 2026.
CBS college basketball reporter Jon Rothstein placed Purdue at the top of his preseason rankings. Dick Vitale has hopped on the Boilermaker Special bandwagon, placing them #1 on his 2025-26 list. Says Vitale: “Coach Matt Painter has his Boilermakers ready to roll. They return five of their top six scorers, including Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith, plus major transfers Oscar Cluff and Liam Murphy. Watch out, baby, this squad’s Sweet 16 run last year was no fluke.
The wild card who is lurking in the shadows is Jacobsen. Purdue was counting on him last year, and without him, the Boilers reached the Sweet 16. With him, fans of the black and gold just may be peeking ahead to a magical year that ends at the 2026 Final Four in Indianapolis, which just so happens to be about an hour south of West Lafayette.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
