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Jaiden Arnol, Carl Thompson III and Adam Walker
Three Sign With Mastodon MBB
11/12/2025 9:33:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Jaiden Arnold (Cincinnati, Ohio / Cincinnati Aiken HS / Fork Union Military), Carl Thompson III (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian HS) and Adam Walker (Plainfield, Ill. / Westtown HS) have signed with the Purdue Fort Wayne men's basketball program to join the Mastodons in 2026-27.
"We're excited to welcome our fall recruiting class," Purdue Fort Wayne head coach Jon Coffman said. "Our program has been built on players who love to play, live in the gym, and are obsessed with development. This group fits that mold perfectly and will thrive in our pace-and-space style of play. College basketball is evolving, and we're committed to adapting—as long as it aligns with our team culture: being part of something bigger than ourselves. Our best players over the past decade buy into investing in our University and community beyond just on the hardwood. They embrace the work on the floor, develop as leaders on & off the court, and invest in serving our community."
Arnold (6'1", guard) played his senior year of high school for Derrell Black at Cincinnati Aiken High School. He was the 2025 OHSBCA Division 3 Player of the Year, Southwest Ohio Division 3 Player of the Year, 2025 District 16 Division 3 Player of the Year and 2025 CMAC Player of the Year. Arnold was First Team All-State, First Team All-Southwest Ohio and First Team All-District 16. Arnold scored over 1,000 career points, leading his team to a league title, district championship, regional title and a state runner-up finish. He is currently playing a postgrad year at Fork Union Military in Fork Union, Virginia where his coach is Bob Williams.
"Jaiden is a dynamic point guard with elite speed and shiftiness," Coffman said. "He's exceptional in ball screens and has the ability to both score it and facilitate for others. We signed Jaiden last year, and his decision to spend a year at Fork Union, one of the nation's top prep programs, has given him valuable experience and development to prepare for college basketball."
Thompson (6'5", guard) played AAU on the Under Armour Circuit for Grand Rapids Storm. He was named Second Team All-State Division 2 as well as first team all-conference and first team all-area under high school coach Eric Taylor. In 2023-24 he helped Grand Rapids Christian to a regional, district and league title on their way to a state runner-up finish.
"Carl brings a great combination of size and skill to our perimeter," Coffman said. "He's a big guard who can play both on and off the ball and reminds me of some Mastodon greats coming out of high school with that same versatility and feel for the game. We love his ability to impact winning in multiple ways."
Walker (6'11", forward) is playing his senior season at Westtown High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania for head coach Seth Berger after playing his first three seasons at Romeoville High School in Romeoville, Illinois. Westtown High School plays a national schedule in one of the top divisions in the nation. He played on the Nike EYBL Circuit this past summer, where he finished second on the circuit in blocked shots per game with just over two per game. Walker was high school and AAU teammates with current Mastodon EJ Mosley.
"Adam is a long, fast, athletic, and skilled forward who fits perfectly in our pace-and-space system," Coffman said. "He can stretch the floor with his shooting ability, protect the rim, and impact the game on both ends. His versatility and motor will allow him to grow quickly in our program. Like Jaiden, his decision to spend a year in prep school has given him valuable experience and development to prepare for college basketball."
These are the first members of the fall recruiting class.
"We're thrilled about this group," Coffman said. "All three of these guys have the versatility to fill up the stat sheet in multiple ways and the competitiveness to thrive and develop in our system. They fit who we are—players who love to play, live in the gym, and are driven to keep getting better."
The 2025-26 Mastodons are in action on Wednesday (Nov. 12) at Western Michigan.
~ Feel The Rumble ~
"We're excited to welcome our fall recruiting class," Purdue Fort Wayne head coach Jon Coffman said. "Our program has been built on players who love to play, live in the gym, and are obsessed with development. This group fits that mold perfectly and will thrive in our pace-and-space style of play. College basketball is evolving, and we're committed to adapting—as long as it aligns with our team culture: being part of something bigger than ourselves. Our best players over the past decade buy into investing in our University and community beyond just on the hardwood. They embrace the work on the floor, develop as leaders on & off the court, and invest in serving our community."
Arnold (6'1", guard) played his senior year of high school for Derrell Black at Cincinnati Aiken High School. He was the 2025 OHSBCA Division 3 Player of the Year, Southwest Ohio Division 3 Player of the Year, 2025 District 16 Division 3 Player of the Year and 2025 CMAC Player of the Year. Arnold was First Team All-State, First Team All-Southwest Ohio and First Team All-District 16. Arnold scored over 1,000 career points, leading his team to a league title, district championship, regional title and a state runner-up finish. He is currently playing a postgrad year at Fork Union Military in Fork Union, Virginia where his coach is Bob Williams.
"Jaiden is a dynamic point guard with elite speed and shiftiness," Coffman said. "He's exceptional in ball screens and has the ability to both score it and facilitate for others. We signed Jaiden last year, and his decision to spend a year at Fork Union, one of the nation's top prep programs, has given him valuable experience and development to prepare for college basketball."
Thompson (6'5", guard) played AAU on the Under Armour Circuit for Grand Rapids Storm. He was named Second Team All-State Division 2 as well as first team all-conference and first team all-area under high school coach Eric Taylor. In 2023-24 he helped Grand Rapids Christian to a regional, district and league title on their way to a state runner-up finish.
"Carl brings a great combination of size and skill to our perimeter," Coffman said. "He's a big guard who can play both on and off the ball and reminds me of some Mastodon greats coming out of high school with that same versatility and feel for the game. We love his ability to impact winning in multiple ways."
Walker (6'11", forward) is playing his senior season at Westtown High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania for head coach Seth Berger after playing his first three seasons at Romeoville High School in Romeoville, Illinois. Westtown High School plays a national schedule in one of the top divisions in the nation. He played on the Nike EYBL Circuit this past summer, where he finished second on the circuit in blocked shots per game with just over two per game. Walker was high school and AAU teammates with current Mastodon EJ Mosley.
"Adam is a long, fast, athletic, and skilled forward who fits perfectly in our pace-and-space system," Coffman said. "He can stretch the floor with his shooting ability, protect the rim, and impact the game on both ends. His versatility and motor will allow him to grow quickly in our program. Like Jaiden, his decision to spend a year in prep school has given him valuable experience and development to prepare for college basketball."
These are the first members of the fall recruiting class.
"We're thrilled about this group," Coffman said. "All three of these guys have the versatility to fill up the stat sheet in multiple ways and the competitiveness to thrive and develop in our system. They fit who we are—players who love to play, live in the gym, and are driven to keep getting better."
The 2025-26 Mastodons are in action on Wednesday (Nov. 12) at Western Michigan.
~ Feel The Rumble ~
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