Trey Kaufman-Renn Scouting Deepdive
Many questioned how Purdue would address their frontcourt concerns after Zach Edey's departure; it didn't take long for Trey Kaufman-Renn to silence the skeptics.
Going into this season, people didn’t know how Purdue would deal with the loss of Zach Edey, one of the best big men college basketball has ever seen. Just last season he led them to a national championship game appearance; a game the Boilermakers could have won had they bolstered more depth in the frontcourt. Their issues in the frontcourt were worsened when impact forward Mason Gillis entered the transfer portal and joined the Duke Blue Devils. It looked like the team was going to be forced to fall back on center Will Berg, incoming freshman Daniel Jacobsen, and returning junior Trey Kaufman-Renn. That said, head coach Matt Painter was soon forced to put almost all of his trust in Kaufman-Renn after Jacobsen went down with a leg injury early in the season. Now, 11 games into the season, not only does it look like Painter was right to put his trust in him, but it also looks like Kaufman-Renn may make a legitimate case to be selected in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Player Profile:
Originally from Sellersburg, Indiana, Kaufman-Renn was a highly touted recruit out of Silver Creek High School. The 6’9” and 230lb forward was a consensus top 50 recruit in the 2021 graduating class, and would eventually commit to Purdue over schools such as Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Louisville, and Texas A&M. He redshirted after suffering a knee injury early into his true freshman season. During his debut season in 2022-23, Kaufman-Renn would see action in all 35 of Purdue’s games, posting averages of 4.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, .7 assists, .4 steals, and .2 blocks per game. The following year he would start all 39 games for the team but wouldn’t see much of a minutes increase and would only slightly improve statistically. That leads us to this season, where Kaufman-Renn has jumped from 16.9 minutes a night to 30.6. This, in addition to several factors we will discuss shortly, has led to an enhanced stat line of 18.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, .5 steals, and .1 blocks on shooting splits of 57.3% from the field, 50% from beyond the arc (on only .5 attempts a night), and 64.4% from the free-throw line.
As of today, Kaufman-Renn leads the Boilermakers in scoring and rebounding. His emergence as one of the best power forwards/centers in the nation has been vital for a Purdue team that is still trying to find their footing. All-American point guard Braden Smith has held up his end of the bargain, but if it weren’t for the contributions of Kaufman-Renn, the team would look like a fish out of water to start their season. His immense impact and impressive statistical output are what has put him on NBA Draft radars, and why I want to break down his game today. So, let’s get to that.
Interior Scoring:
Virtually all of Kaufman-Renn's scoring output is generated within the perimeter, whether it be right at the hoop or in the mid-range. For the most part, the closer he gets to the basket, the more likely he is to convert on shot attempts. He’s an incredibly skilled scorer with his back to the basket who can also put the ball on the floor and attack the hoop or operate as an off-ball play finisher. Despite not being the most versatile scorer from a three-level perspective, he has figured out how to remain unpredictable with his array of moves at the rim.
As I’m sure you could have guessed, Kaufman-Renn offers basically no traditional floor spacing because of an inability to make the outside shot. Instead, he’s able to open up the floor with his screen setting and ability to attack the basket from the perimeter out of the pick-and-roll. It helps that his ball handler is Braden Smith, but I am of the belief that he would still be dangerous in this position even with a lesser point guard. Purdue is able to diversify the way they approach the Smith and Kaufman-Renn pick-and-roll, either throwing the pass early when the opposing team fails to switch or waiting until the last minute to dump it off when the interior defense has already committed to the ball handler. His impressive finishing around the rim allows him to thrive in both of these positions.
Where Kaufman-Renn's elite finishing really shines is when he decides to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim with momentum. He’s able to score on these attempts in a myriad of ways. Sometimes, he’ll utilize herky-jerky acceleration and deceleration to throw off defenders. He can fake the post-up before spinning toward the hoop and leaving opponents in the dust. On occasion he’ll barrel straight through the chest of the interior defender and finish through contact. He’s far more dangerous in these situations than your average big man, ensuring his game remains unpredictable despite not having an outside shot.
He’s probably at his best with his back to the basket or in post-up situations, where he’s able to throw different looks at opposing big men from a virtually identical position. In a traditional sense, he’s able to use his strength to slowly back his matchup into deep paint position where he’s almost automatic. What truly separates him from your average post-up big is his elite footwork and ability to quickly accelerate with spin moves. Kaufman-Renn is deceptively quick, and in most situations, he simply outclasses opposing frontcourts with his standout on-the-ground athleticism.
Kaufman-Renn's ability to fend off defenders and seal them off for easy offense at the rim is second-to-none in college basketball. This skill perfectly complements Braden Smith’s ability to put the ball on a dime, making it an incredibly effective option for Purdue’s offense. He’s able to effectively convert on these seals because of his ability to find excellent court position and because of his next-level strength. It’s traits such as these that allow him to play the five for Purdue despite being several inches shorter than most of his matchups. Everything about his interior scoring game throws a wrench in opposing gameplans, and he’s done a fantastic job taking advantage of these unprepared opponents.
In-Between Scoring:
Kaufman-Renn's in-between game is strange to say the least. He really doesn’t possess any sort of mid-range jump shot, but he’s able to extend his soft touch shot making beyond the paint. When given any sort of space he’s almost automatic on floaters, push shots, and hook shots, and he’s able to create that space in a multitude of ways.
His soft touch finishing is far more comparable to a guard than a big, making him incredibly dangerous in short roll and in dump off situations. He hoists floaters up with a smooth motion and at a high release point to protect the ball from bigger defenders. His excellence near the rim forces defenders to drop deep into the paint, giving him the necessary space to get this shot whenever he wants. Defenses are forced to choose between allowing this shot or letting him get to the rim; either way, Kaufman-Renn is more than likely going to convert.
If the defense can both stop the floater game and wall up the rim, Kaufman-Renn is still able to punish opponents with his tough shot making acumen. He creates space out of post-ups with spin moves and pump fakes. This is probably where he draws most of his fouls, as defenders must attach themselves to his hip and contest his pump fakes. Once he gets defenders off the ground, he’s not only great at creating contact for fouls, but also at converting attempts through said contact. The only issue with this is that he isn’t a great free-throw shooter, but his 6.6 attempts from the charity stripe per game is nothing to scoff at.
He’s also able to keep things traditional, knocking down hook shots over just about anyone assigned to him. His hook shot isn’t unblockable like many historical hooks are, but his timing is so perfect and difficult to predict that opponents have to be perfect if they want to alter the shot. He takes and makes this shot with both hands but primarily uses his right. He generates the shot by either pivoting to a point where the defender is off balance and out of rhythm or by laying his shoulder into the chest of the defender to create a few extra inches of space. When plays break down or Kaufman-Renn is asked to simply get a bucket, he often falls back on his hook shot as the most reliable shot in his arsenal.
Outside Shooting:
This section is going to be brief. Kaufman-Renn has attempted six three-point shots so far this season and has made three of them. Last season he went 8-24 from beyond the arc, and the season before that he went 5-20. It would be inaccurate to say that he has no semblance of an outside shot, but the three-point shot that he does have is unreliable to say the least. That said, I do see the makings of a real outside shot, and if that’s the case it would be more than advantageous for Kaufman-Renn to further develop those makings at some point in the near future.
Like I said, his shot from beyond the arc really doesn’t look all that bad. He has a somewhat funky release point, letting the ball settle above his head, but let’s not act like big men with solid outside shots haven’t had similar shot motions in the past. I think his biggest issue is the lack of real arc after releasing the ball. He more or less lets a laser loose toward the rim, meaning he has to be far more accurate for shots to fall. If he can build some arc into his shot, there’s a chance that he could become an average outside shooting big. That said, he’s not much of a free-throw shooter either, which is usually a solid indicator for potential three-point shooting success.
Passing & Playmaking:
I really do think that Kaufman-Renn is a special scorer, but I’m not sure if his scoring alone makes him an NBA-caliber talent. With that said, I find it difficult to argue that his passing doesn’t make him the perfect player for the modern professional landscape. As a passing big, he understands what type of shots are the most valuable and result in the most efficient offense possible. Almost all of his assists are generated in one of two ways. He either kicks it out to an open shooter once his gravity opens the perimeter up, or he hits a teammate near the rim for easy offense at the basket. He keeps it simple, he doesn’t get cute, and because of that he has emerged as one of the best passing big men in all of college basketball.
Any solid post big is capable of throwing passes like the ones you see above. What separates Kaufman-Renn from other frontcourt players is his lack of hesitation while maintaining an elite feel for the game. He has an incredibly quick trigger when passing into the interior, which is vital considering the quicker his teammates receive the pass the less likely a rim protector will come into the picture. That said, he’s also excellent at waiting for the double-team to come on his post-ups before making the pass to a cutting teammate. Purdue is a high-powered off-ball offense, and a big reason for that is because they have two legitimate offensive hubs on the team in Braden Smith and Kaufman-Renn. For that reason, double-teaming Kaufman-Renn does no good, but if the extra defender doesn’t provide support, he’s liable to take it to the rim himself. Truly a nearly unstoppable offensive threat.
Where his passing really shines is on his kickout looks to open shooters around the perimeter. These assists may not be as flashy as his assists to interior scorers, but they result in some of the most efficient offensive possessions that you’ll see in college basketball. He maintains his quick trigger when stationed at the nail or in the short roll. He’s also able to artificially create gravity by driving into the center of the court or by drawing a help defender on his post-ups. He has fantastic vision and a willingness to look for open teammates, always knowing where everyone on the court is positioned and where they may relocate to. I firmly believe that if Braden Smith wasn’t on this roster and the Boilermakers used Kaufman-Renn as a true offensive hub, he would be considered the clear best passing big in college basketball.
Defense:
Defense is where things get slightly sticky for Kaufman-Renn from an NBA perspective. His ability to wall up the interior using his strength and sturdy frame is a legitimate defensive asset, but other than that he isn’t an incredibly impactful defender. Take this with a grain of salt considering he isn’t built to play the five spot and is playing center this season due to unforeseen circumstances, but he offers absolutely no rim protection. Through 11 games this season, he has only recorded one block, and it came in their first game of the season against Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Last season, in 39 starts, he recorded only 14 blocks. To put it simply, if he’s not successful in denying paint position, the opposing big is going to, at the very least, get a clean look at the rim.
He is slightly better at turning opponents over than he is at picking up blocks, but he’s not great at that either. He has six steals so far this season, for a meh average of .5 per game. I understand that he will defend fours at the professional level, but he still needs to be able to switch onto fives on occasion, and now I’m not overly confident in his ability to do so.
Now, these are offensive rebounds, but they still do a decent job of illustrating his most valuable trait on the defensive end. Kaufman-Renn isn’t a show-stopping rebounder by any means, but he gives a legitimate effort on the boards and is able to make a difference because of that effort on both ends of the court. I think his rebounding numbers would likely look considerably better if he were matching up against fours rather than fives, so again, take his rebounding averages for this season with a grain of salt. All in all, I think his strength and IQ still give him some defensive value, but this is definitely the area of the game where he needs to do the most work to make the professional leap.
Summary:
Before I get into the full summary of Kaufman-Renn’s game, I want to list out any and all weaknesses and flaws in his game. It’s important to note that every player, even the best in the world, has a laundry list of weaknesses. What’s important is that a player looks at their flaws as areas in need of improvement instead of areas that have no room for growth.
He has legitimate vertical athleticism concerns. For a power forward spending a considerable amount of time under the rim, he very rarely dunks the ball. This does lead to concerns about his scoring ceiling against professional defenders.
He lacks a real mid-range jump shot. This isn’t the biggest deal considering he scores from this range in different ways but developing that shot would further diversify his shot diet and make him more difficult to predict.
He’s a below average free-throw shooter who misses out on a ton of free points by being inconsistent at the line. With how many fouls he draws, it’s vital that he improves in this department.
He’s not comfortable or confident in his outside shot and he still needs to tweak this shot before he’ll be able to make it consistently. That said, I think he’s closer to being a decent shooter than most give him credit for.
He occasionally deals with real turnover concerns, which limits the amount of time Purdue is comfortable letting him run the offense. This handicaps not only his passing capabilities, but also his scoring volume.
He suffers from foul trouble quite often, but this wasn’t nearly as big of an issue last season when he was a full-time forward. I’m hoping that his transition to the five spot causes him to foul in an effort to make up for his size disadvantage.
He’s an average defensive rebounder, but much like his foul issues I think his numbers are likely taking a hit due to him being played out of position.
As I mentioned, he’s a legitimately bad rim protector both as a primary rim protector and in help. If there’s any aspect of his game that I’m not sure how he’ll improve, it’s his rim protection.
He has average hands and isn’t a great lateral mover on defense, leading him to be a below average defender when drawn away from the paint as well. He will pick up a steal or deflection occasionally, but I really think a lot of this is the result of him not caring all that much about defense.
To summarize Trey Kaufman-Renn's game, it’s important to focus on the two broadest categories of the game in two very different ways. Offensively, he’s a dynamic interior scorer who often leaves defenses helpless with his advanced skill level on this end. He adds legitimate passing chops to the mix, and all of a sudden, you’re looking at one of the most well-rounded interior threats in the sport. Problems arise when evaluating his defensive game, where he’s not nearly the impact maker that he is on offense. When matched up against fives he struggles to hold his own and offers no resistance at the rim. When matched up against fours he looks slightly slow and easy to beat off-the-dribble.
What’s most important when looking at Kaufman-Renn from an NBA Draft perspective is that we recognize what areas he could grow in. I think his soft touch shot making suggests that he could eventually stretch his game beyond the arc. If he becomes an average outside shooter and starts knocking down more of his free-throws, he would be a nearly perfect player on the offensive end. Defensively, I think a lot of his issues are the result of a mental lapse. If he can improve his defensive motor, his strength and feel for the game should be able to carry him to average defender status. If he can cement himself as a neutral on the defensive end, his offensive game alone should be enough to see him drafted in one of the next two drafts. For the time being, though, he continues to excel for Purdue as they look to make another deep run in the NCAA tournament.