Lewis Jackson was able to test his surgerically repaired left foot against “grown-up” competition.

D.J. Byrd was able to play his natural guard position.

Sandi Marcius was able to get game action.

Three Purdue men’s basketball players made trips overseas this summer to play international competition for different organizations. All benefited from the experience, which is exactly what coach Matt Painter hoped.

“We encourage certain individuals to do it to help themselves,” Painter said. “Any time you haven’t played as much the year before or haven’t played at all, just getting that experience of playing in a game again and kind of getting a little bit of that rust off you, I think that really, really helps you.”

Jackson averaged 9.5 points, 4.5 steals and 3.3 assists in five games with the East Coast All-Stars. Though Jackson’s team went only 1-4, he had several impressive outings. Against Paris Select, the 5-foot-9 junior had 13 points, nine assists and six steals, proving he’s getting back into top game shape.

Jackson played the final 16

games of the season on an injured foot, one that had a broken screw from a previous surgery. But he declared himself 95 percent healed from a second surgery, and he was able to showcase his ability over the 10 days in Switzerland and France.

“Just going into my junior year, I understand what a point guard has to do here,” Jackson said. “It’s such a demand. I didn’t want to go home and take a couple weeks off (this summer). I think the trip helped me get in shape earlier and just do the things that we did, so now I can come back and be ready from the jump.

“I shot it pretty well, just the midrange. … I saw that open up the game a lot more. Guys have to come out and close out, and it actually helped me get other guys open shots and layups. So shooting the ball from the 15-foot range was good for me.”

Byrd also found his overseas trip rewarding.

He spent eight days in August traveling through Europe, hitting Germany, France and England while playing five games with Global Sports Academy. Byrd, a sophomore, was able to play guard for the team, which went 5-0. The 6-5 Byrd was forced to play more of a forward role last season for Purdue and often had to defend bigger players. That wasn’t the case overseas.

“I played the (small forward) but wound up guarding some (point guards, shooting guards and small forwards),” Byrd said. “So that was my main thing, really focusing on keeping them in front of me and playing the guard position and defending the guard position very well.

“It’s good to get out and play against different types of teams and different types of players. The Europeans play a lot differently than we do. They run their offense to death and they’re very fundamental. It was good for us to see teams like that.”

Marcius isn’t available for interviews until he plays in a game for Purdue, but Painter said he thought Marcius benefited from his experience with Athletes in Action in Poland. Marcius, a 6-9 forward, broke his foot last season and redshirted.

sclardie@jg.net