Where Are They Now? Chris Kramer
Today marks the first column in a series titled, “Where Are They Now.” I will take a look at past Purdue athletes and give Boilermaker fans a glimpse into what their favorite players of yesterday are up to today.
The first subject is one that all Boilermaker fans should embrace. Chris Kramer, the heart and soul of Purdue basketball for four years, agreed to conduct an interview with Big 10 Rant to share a look into what he is up to now, and to reflect on his time at Purdue.
Kramer was a part of Matt Painter’s second recruiting class at Purdue and was lightly recruited in high school. According to Rivals.com, the only offer he had besides Purdue was Ball State. The 6-3 shooting guard out of Huntington, Indiana, quickly worked his way into the starting lineup at Purdue and was a key cog in the process of turning the program around.
Kramer’s heart and passion helped define Purdue basketball as a team that would fight on every possession. Kramer wasn’t afraid to give up his body for the good of the team, and his passion for the game led him into the record books at Purdue. Kramer holds the record for career steals at 274, and also has the record for steals per game at 2.1 After the jump, we will dive into our exclusive interview with the Purdue icon and it should be something every Purdue fan enjoys.
Big 10 Rant: Well Chris, some fans may not know what you have been up to since you graduated in May. Where has life taken you over these last 9 months?
Chris Kramer: As my finals finished up I moved to Indianapolis and started working out at St. Vincent Sports Performance. I was doing basketball workouts in the morning and then strength and mobility training in the afternoon. During my time there I would have various workouts with NBA teams prior to the draft. I went undrafted and played in the NBA Summer league in Orlando with the Indiana Pacers. I went to training camp with the Milwaukee Bucks. I was the second to last guy waived and now I am playing the NBDL for the Ft Wayne Mad Ants.
Big 10 Rant: You were a part of Matt Painter’s second recruiting class, and that is a class that will be known for turning the program around at an accelerated rate. What made you decide on Purdue, even though they were mired in a slump?
CK: I chose Purdue because I really liked the coaches, players, and a chance to play right away. I knew David Teague would be coming back and heard a possibility of Carl Landry redshirting and playing my freshman year.
Big 10 Rant: You made the NCAA Tournament all four years you were at Purdue, and provided one of the great tourney moments last year with your last second layup against Texas A&M. Looking back on that shot, how does that place on your all time memory list at Purdue?
CK: Making the game winning layup against Texas A&M to advance to the Sweet 16 is by far number 1 on my list of memories. Our backs were against the wall and everyone had counted us out since Robbie went down. Our team really came together and played well in the tournament.
Big 10 Rant: Since you graduated, how many games have you been able to watch this year? What is your opinion of the current Boilermaker season, and how do you think they are managing the loss of Robbie for the second straight season?
CK: I have been able to watch the Boilers play a few times this season. If I am unable to watch I will gamecast the game though. I think the team is playing very well. JaJuan is playing like a first team All-American and Smooge is playing well too. With those two guys playing well and the way Purdue plays defense we will always have a chance to beat good teams. The thing they need is someone to step up every game though. Ryne Smith, Lewis Jackson, and John Hart have all stepped up and filled a little scoring void that was lost when Robbie went down again. I don’t look at Robbie going down as a negative thing. Obviously they would be a better team with him, but things happen for a reason. No one is sure what God’s reasoning for the luck that Rob has had, but the way he has handled the tough situations says a great deal about Rob as a person.
Big 10 Rant: Any plans to go into coaching after your playing career is over?
CK: I have aspirations of coaching after my basketball career is over. I hope that those days are later than sooner, but spreading my basketball knowledge to kids is something I want to do with my life.
Big 10 Rant: What do you miss most about being on campus as a Boilermaker?
CK: I miss the people and the basketball. The student body made my time at Purdue very memorable. All of the support they gave our team meant the world to us and the paint crew truly made Mackey Arena one of the toughest places to play in the country.
Big 10 Rant: What advice do you have for somebody who is trying to fulfill their dreams in all walks of life?
CK: If I could give someone advice to fulfill their dreams in all parts of life I would say…”Shoot for the stars and never sell yourself short. If you think you can do it then put everything you can into it and see what happens.”
Lastly, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in Boilermaker country for all the memories and great times during my time at Purdue. The memories are endless and it was the best 4 years of my life.
Big 10 Rant: Thank you for your time Chris, and us here at Big 10 Rant wish you the best of luck in the rest of your future endeavors.
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