The Purdue basketball roster has seen its first entry into the transfer portal this offseason, and it comes from a local talent. Noblesville native and walk-on guard Aaron Fine has confirmed his entry while keeping the door open for a potential return to West Lafayette.

Fine, who has three years of eligibility remaining, spent the last two seasons practicing against All-American point guard Braden Smith. After redshirting in 2024-25, he appeared in nine games this past season, scoring in six of them and shooting an efficient 50% from the field. His high school pedigree is impressive; he was an Indiana All-Star after a standout senior year at Noblesville where he averaged 17.9 points and shot 41% from three-point range.

Despite showing he can play at the Division I level, the path to significant minutes at Purdue appears crowded. Even with Smith's graduation, the Boilermakers' backcourt is expected to be solidified with returners like Omer Mayer—who has confirmed he will be back—alongside Gicarri Harris, C.J. Cox, and Antione West Jr., plus incoming freshman Luke Ertel. This logjam likely limits immediate playing opportunities, making the transfer portal an avenue for Fine to potentially find a larger role elsewhere.

If Fine chooses to return to Purdue, he would likely resume his role as a valuable scout team player, a path with precedent for walk-ons in the program. He has previously cited the example of Grady Eifert, who redshirted as a walk-on and eventually became a starter for an Elite Eight team. For now, Fine's decision marks the beginning of Purdue's offseason roster maneuvering as they look to build on another successful campaign.