Caleb Swanigan would be the best power forward in the world. His taste buds just needed changing.

When Swanigan was a 6-foot-4 and 360-pound eighth-grader, his adopted father, Roosevelt Barnes, believed that. He thought Swanigan had the talent to be among the best, even if his body said otherwise.

“He was really, really fat,” Barnes said.

Barnes set out to change that. When Swanigan moved from Utah to Fort Wayne, Ind., to live with Barnes, Barnes monitored what the teenager ate. He switched out the French fries, candy and soda for fruit, vegetables and water, and Swanigan lost 60 pounds in 21/2 months. It was at that point, Barnes said, the boy began to believe what Barnes was saying: Swanigan could be the best in the world.

“Now, what do you have to do to get there?” Barnes asked. “That broccoli will get you there.”

Broccoli – and mushrooms and spinach – helped Swanigan get to Colorado Springs, where he is one of 16 players remaining at USA Basketball’s U19 training camp trying out for the 12-player roster. Indiana’s 2015 Mr. Basketball is now 6-9, 260 pounds. When he suits up for Purdue next season, the McDonald’s All-American will be the most hyped recruit to wear a Boilermaker uniform since Glenn Robinson did so more than 20 years ago.

Barnes said he never doubted Swanigan becoming the player he is now. Even at his heaviest, Barnes saw good hands and a high basketball IQ. And he felt Swanigan would continue to grow. His nickname, after all, is “Biggie” – given to him for his size as a baby.

Before moving in with Barnes permanently, Swanigan lived in Salt Lake City. In Utah, Swanigan’s family moved every couple of years, and, when it came to food, Swanigan said, “all my family’s big.” Barnes, a family friend, thought a more steady environment would help.

Steady – it’s one way to describe Swanigan’s game. There’s little flash to it. Barnes wanted to mold Swanigan into a classic power player, like Moses Malone and Charles Barkley.

“Know what your DNA is,” Barnes said.

Though he can shoot the ball out to the 3-point line, Swanigan more often uses his wide body to clear defenders out of the way when teammates drive to the hoop and when he finishes around the rim for his own buckets. Near the basket, he attempts more layups than dunks, though that’s a habit he’s trying to change: he’s still getting used to being able to jump high.

Like the power players Barnes wants Swanigan to resemble, the forward is a presence on the glass. During one possession in a scrimmage, he grabbed two consecutive offensive rebounds against his future Purdue teammate, Vince Edwards, before eventually drawing a foul.

“He got lucky with that one,” Edwards said with a smile. “We’re not having that in practice once we get back to West Lafayette.”

With the arrival of Swanigan, expectations are high for the Boilermakers. Along with Edwards, Purdue returns two 7-footers in A.J. Hammons and Isaac Haas. That was key in Swanigan’s decision: he’ll be able to play the position that he and Barnes think he fits best – power forward.

Swanigan, who originally committed to Michigan State in April, called Purdue “the best business decision.”

Swanigan said he knows fans anticipate a lot out of him. But Purdue coach Matt Painter, one of the evaluators at the U19 training camp, said he thinks Swanigan will handle the pressure well. Barnes thinks so too.

Swanigan has had heavy burdens before.

“It’s been a marathon,” Swanigan said.