St. John's, NL – Memorial University Men's Basketball Head Coach Ian Coultas is pleased to announce the addition of John Purchase, a 6'5 power forward from Waterford Valley High School in St. John's.

Purchase joins the Sea-Hawks after developing his game with both Waterford Valley High School, the Newfoundland & Labrador Canada Games Team, and the CE23 program. Known for his physical presence and relentless effort on the glass, Purchase brings toughness and energy to Memorial's frontcourt.

During his time at Waterford Valley, Purchase earned MVP honours with the basketball program, highlighting his impact and leadership on the court.

He plans to study Business at Memorial while continuing his basketball career at the U SPORTS level.

"I'm looking forward to the higher level of competition and being a part of the culture of the Memorial basketball team," Purchase said.

When asked why he chose Memorial, Purchase pointed to both the academic opportunity and the chance to represent his hometown.

"The business program and the opportunity to play and represent my hometown university with the great coaching staff made Memorial the right choice for me."

Sea-Hawks fans can expect a player who embraces the physical side of the game.

"You'll see intense rebounding on both ends of the floor."

Head Coach Ian Coultas is excited to add Purchase to the roster and believes he will make an early impact.

"John is an excellent addition for our team next season. He's a very physical player who we believe will be ready to contribute at the U SPORTS level early in his career. He played very well at the Canada Games, where he showcased himself as one of the top forwards in the country. We're excited to get started working with him and see the impact he can make with our program."

The Sea-Hawks look forward to welcoming Purchase to campus as the team prepares for the upcoming 2026–27 U SPORTS season.

For further details regarding Memorial University's Sea-Hawks Basketball Program and John Purchase's commitment, please contact Ian Coultas at imcoultas@mun.ca.