The Purdue Boilermakers are building something special for 2026, and it’s not just talk - it’s backed by a top-five recruiting class that’s already turning heads across the college basketball landscape. Head coach Matt Painter has assembled a group that’s ranked just behind perennial blue bloods like Duke, Michigan State, Kansas, and Maryland.
And leading the charge? Mt.
Vernon senior Luke Ertel - a name Boilermaker fans should get used to hearing.
Ertel isn’t just a top recruit; he’s a full-on force. Ranked No. 41 nationally, No. 4 among combo guards, and the top player in the state of Indiana, Ertel is the kind of in-state talent that Purdue has made a habit of keeping home.
He’s been lighting it up this season, averaging 25.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting an efficient 47% from the field. That’s not just production - that’s dominance.
His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. On Thursday, the Naismith Awards released their mid-season watch list for high school player of the year, and Ertel earned a spot among the nation’s elite.
He’s the only player from Indiana to make the list, but he’s in good company with other future Big Ten stars like Quinn Costello (Michigan), Jasiah Jervis (Michigan State), and Anthony Thompson (Ohio State). The Big Ten’s future backcourts are already shaping up to be must-watch.
For Purdue, Ertel arrives at a pivotal moment. The program is preparing to move on from one of the most dynamic scoring backcourts in school history - Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer.
That’s no small void to fill, but Ertel brings the kind of scoring punch and versatility that could help soften the blow. He’s a confident shot-creator with the size and instincts to impact the game in multiple ways, and he won’t be alone.
Joining him in West Lafayette will be fellow 2026 signees Gicarri Harris, Omar Mayer, and CJ Cox - a group that adds depth, skill, and athleticism. And don’t forget about redshirt freshman Antoine West, a highly touted prospect in his own right, who’ll be ready to contribute after a year of development.
This isn’t just about one player or one class - it’s about continuity. Painter and his staff have kept Purdue in the national conversation for years, and this incoming group looks like the next wave capable of keeping that standard alive. With Ertel leading the way, the Boilermakers aren’t just reloading - they’re reasserting themselves as one of the premier programs in college basketball.