Purdue Basketball Recruiting: 2026 Commit Luke Ertel Adds Offensive Talent

Matt Painter’s Boilermakers picked up its first commit of the 2026 high school class, snagging in-state guard Luke Ertel, per his Twitter. The 6’2 guard turned heads playing for Indiana Elite on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit this Summer. He’s a relative unknown from a basketball recruiting perspective and a dual sport athlete, playing quarterback for his high school in Mount Vernon, Indiana. Despite lacking any stars or notoriety from mainstream recruiting outlets, Ertel is a noteworthy pickup for a Purdue program building for a post-Zach Edey world.

Purdue Adds Another Sharpshooter

Ertel was a feature of a dominant 17u AAU team as a rising junior, an impressive feat in itself. Indiana Elite went 17-3 this Summer and Ertel played a key role next to higher profile 2025 recruits in Malachi Moreno and Braylon Mullins. He came off the bench and played like he belonged with older competition, averaging a solid 7.1 points, 3.5 assists and 4.3 boards (per Synergy) in a complementary role.

A hyper-efficient offensive player, Ertel’s fit on a team stacked with future high major and NBA talent was seamless. Ertel’s 64.3% true shooting and 50% three-point percentage both led his team and placed him in the upper echelon of all 17u players. Though his volume is limited, Ertel creates good outcomes when he touches the ball, whether through shotmaking or smart passing.

Potent spot-up shooting allows Ertel to catch and fire when his teammates draw defensive attention; Ertel shot a searing 78.3% (18-23) on open catch-and-shoot threes this Summer. The shoot sample on the whole is small, but Ertel’s shown consistent shooting aptitude throughout his AAU career. He’s made 41.7% of his 153 three-point attempts over the last three Summers while shooting 81% from the free-throw line, indicating Ertel’s status as a bona-fide floor spacer.

Ertel’s Feel Adds To His Playmaking Potential

ertel popped playing an age group up on a dominant indy elite team this summer, such a smart, poised player with some real passing creativity and hyper efficient offense

1.63 a:to, 50% 3p (56 3par), over four boards per game. good basketball player https://t.co/8RkN3wlxAp pic.twitter.com/shOqblgIED

— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) September 3, 2024

Ertel’s passing mirrors his efficient scoring, posting an excellent 1.63 assist-to-turnover ratio this season. It’s easy to trust Ertel with the ball in his hands, as he’s comfortable handling decision-making responsibilities as a point guard or as a closeout attacker off of his shooting gravity.

He’s aggressive and decisive with the ball, a trait young guards often lack. Ertel’s turnovers tend to result from bigger, stronger defenders plucking his handle and overaggression in transition. In the half-court, Ertel doesn’t waste motion and processes the floor quickly. Ertel may not dazzle with live-dribble reads all over the floor. College teams cherish guards who play within their role, extend advantages and take care of the basketball, all descriptors of Ertel’s game.

Slashing remains Ertel’s major offensive limitation, as he lacks the size, burst or shiftiness to maneuver downhill consistently against higher-level competition. Just 17.5% of Ertel’s shots came at the basket this AAU season, finishing 44.4% of those attempts (22nd percentile among 3SSB 17u).

Those driving issues likely limit Ertel’s ceiling as a primary offensive option, as well as a low-volume off-dribble shotmaking sample. Purdue likely won’t ask Ertel to handle the ball much, at least early in his career. He’s an ideal theoretical fit in Painter’s motion offense, as Ertel should thrive in a system that often runs through a hub big in the middle and relies on screening and passing.

His feel for the game sticks out as his premier defensive trait, as Ertel is quick to react to offensive movement, making snappy rotations and closeouts. With enough lateral quickness to guard smaller players, Ertel should find success as a smart, well-positioned off-ball defender, even if he’ll only guard opposing point guard-sized players unless he continues to grow or bulks up significantly.

What Can Fans Expect From Ertel Early In His Purdue Career?

It’s far too early to project the Boilermakers’ roster for the Fall of 2026, though we can probably expect at least some of the young players on the roster like Myles Colvin, Camden Heide, Gicarri Harris or Daniel Jacobson to develop into feature players at some point. Ertel’s experience thriving in a low-usage, off-ball offensive role playing next to higher-profile stars likely attracted Purdue and helped them feel confident enough to extend the offer this Summer.

Ertel may struggle on the defensive end, as his lack of size or wingspan at the guard spot will limit him against college guards. His effort, defensive rebounding and awareness as an off-ball defender all should raise his floor, and Painter will appreciate his motor despite being a smaller player. Given Ertel’s main sell is his offensive talents, thriving on the defensive end won’t be a requirement for positive impact even if it is a possible outcome.

We won’t see Ertel suit up for the Boilermakers for another few seasons, but it’s never too early for a program to begin planning for the future and lock in ascending talent. As Ertel continues to develop and play more basketball over the coming years, he should continue to garner eyes and attention. He’s a strong complementary offensive guard who may never ascend to pro prospect status but could feature as a four-year rotation staple in college basketball.