May Basketball Recruiting Period Day 1: Purdue commitment Luke Ertel is non-stop; Trey Thompson stars and more

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — As Purdue’s coaching staff is dedicating all its manpower to patrolling the adidas 3SSB event here in Omaha and Nike’s EYBL stop in Memphis, Matt Painter spent Day 1 of the spring evaluation period at the former before moving on Saturday to the latter.

Here’s some of what he saw Friday.

LUKE ERTEL DOESN’T STOP

It’s May and Luke Ertel has long since committed to the Boilermakers, a program he is tailor-made for. But even while his future destination is secured whereas those around him still have real stakes here in Omaha, Ertel still seems to play himself to exhaustion, fight every screen, vie for every loose ball, contest most every dribble and somehow find his way to an inordinate number of offensive rebounds. The ball tends to find effort, as Ertel exemplifies.

That says nothing of him taking on a leading-man role now as a playmaker for his Indiana Elite 17U team. He’s rode a real heater shooting the ball all spring — north of 50 percent from three — showing his extensive range, shot-creation abilities and fearless approach. Meanwhile, he’s his team’s pace-setter in the open floor and quick to drive with abandon, undeterred by the prospect of heavy contact. He plays with a physical edge that belies his size. Ertel scored 23 points Friday in a close win over Midwest Basketball Club

But it is the competitiveness, effort and intangibles that drew Painter and his staff to Ertel last summer. Nothing’s changed in that regard.

Follow GoldandBlack.com on YouTube

More: Thoughts on Friday’s action in Omaha

TREY THOMPSON IS A SWISS ARMY KNIFE

Tennessee Impact won both its games on Friday, leaving it with one left on Saturday and one on Sunday.

Purdue priority target Trey Thompson played well in both wins on Day 1, showing the multi-faceted skill set Painter and his staff covet at the “power” forward position, a great positional three-point shooter who’s also able to drive out of face-ups.

But what stood out Friday, at least in his second game, were his capabilities running the floor and proving an above-the-rim threat. He can lead breaks as a ball-handler, then get the ball back and finish it very comfortably.

Purdue has long valued having 4 men who can dribble, pass and shoot and Thompson checks all those boxes to varying degrees, but that package is accompanied by some of the characteristics in the open floor coaches always would have liked to have seen more from of Camden Heide, for example.

Painter, as was a given considering Thompson’s obvious priority status, watched both Tennessee Impact games Friday. Tennessee sent an assistant to both games, a Kansas coach was present and Butler and Clemson were others who had assistant coaches at his games.

Thompson said he is working toward a commitment “soon.” Elaborating, he suggested summer-ish.

The Greeneville (Tenn.) High School star has offers from Purdue, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and now Stanford, among others, and has been on visits to Louisville, Butler and Tennessee. Xavier’s old staff seriously recruited him also.

Painter and Lusk did an in-home visit with Thompson a few weeks ago.

“They said to pay attention to the college coaches who’ve been in your circle from Day 1,” Thompson said, “and to go to the school that fits you best and not chase the biggest school that offers you. Find a school that wants you, will play you and will help you develop and not just have guys transfer out every single year. That was their message. Purdue’s a great spot.”

BO OGDEN TEARING IT UP

Long-time Purdue 2026 wing target Bo Ogden was 3SSB’s leading scorer this spring leading into Omaha and put up another 20-something in a narrow loss to Team Loaded (Va.) Friday. Painter — with three relevant games going on at once — divided his time between Ertel and Ogden, suggesting Ogden remains a clear priority.

Ogden is from Austin, though, and his father, Chris, remained on staff at Texas during the change from Rodney Terry to Sean Miller.

Miller was present for Ogden’s games Friday.

Assuming the Longhorns seriously recruit Ogden, suffice to say for all other suitors, that would seem like the first obstacle.

Ogden officially visited Purdue during the season.

Among other head coaches who watched Ogden: Oklahoma State’s Steve Lutz, formerly of Painter’s staff at Purdue.

PURDUE’S WHEREABOUTS

While Painter and Lusk were in Omaha, P.J. Thompson and Sasha Stefanovic were in Memphis for the Nike event. Schools are permitted four recruiters in facilities at one time. Brandon Brantley will be in Omaha Saturday, presumably meaning Stefanovic will come off.