4-star PG Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn commits to Purdue

Matt Painter and Purdue continue their success onto the recruiting scene as they land the commitment of 2023 four-star Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn.

He joins Myles Colvin, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard out of Indianapolis Heritage Christian.

The 6-foot-0 point guard is originally from Lafayette, Indiana, and grew up only about five minutes away from the Purdue campus.

Gibbs-Lawhorn averaged 21 points per game as a freshman at McCutcheon High School in Lafayette.

For his sophomore year, Gibbs-Lawhorn transferred to Real Salt Lake Academy in Herriman, Utah, where a national schedule is played, and also stiffer competition. Unfortunately, he was sidelined with a lower leg injury that required surgery and missed his sophomore season.

Gibbs-Lawhorn is back healthy and 100% and plans to attend Purdue University after graduation.

Why Purdue?

“Purdue is more family-related than any other school,” Gibbs-Lawhorn said. “I’ve known Coach (Matt) Painter since I was a kid. My dad used to coach his son on a travel team. Me and Brayden (Painter), his son, have always been kind of close. My dad played ball with or against a couple of the guys on Purdue’s coaching staff, like Coach (Brandon) Brantley and (P.J.) Thompson. So there is already a family bond. Everyone knows everyone, and everyone has good vibes.”

Considering the family ties of the school and the location, did Gibbs-Lawhorn always know in the back of his mind, he would end up at Purdue?

“Honestly, when I first came out to Utah, I wanted to be done with Indiana,” Gibbs-Lawhorn said. “When I first moved out here, I was like ‘man, I’m never going back’. But when I went on that first unofficial visit (to Purdue), taking that photoshoot, talking to the players and everyone, it kind of changed my decision a little bit. Then after my official visit, I was kind of leaning on Purdue. I just felt like Purdue is where I wanted to be.”

Carsen Edwards, Jaden Ivey, and now… Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn? Purdue has a strong lineage of producing talented guards in recent years and now Gibbs-Lawhorn has a strong chance of getting the torch passed to him.