Is it? I'm not a recruitnik and haven't and won't look, but based on past years and rankings-wise what constitutes a top 20 class, I doubt they were very highly ranked as a class, even with Catchings. Take him away, and I bet they'd fall a ton. Painter's made his success with finding guys way better than their ranking (Edey and Smith) and maybe he did it again with Jacobson?, but where are the other freshmen ranked?
Indiana Elite AAU Schedule?
- Thread starter kkott
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24/7 has PU's 2024 class ranked #45. Not sure what else to call that.
But don't worry, I'm sure they're all diamonds in the rough Painter found.
Yea, high school recruits only they're ranked #18, portal rank is N/A (no portal players), and combined high school/portal is #45. That's per 24/7.
Among HS players they have #54, #68, #141, and two unranked players.
It has been...for sure. Everything as changed with NIL and the Portal. And they haven't had to react yet. Maybe they will adapt and continue to thrive? I do think from a style standpoint, Painter will adapt well to not having Edey any more. But to continue being "Top 10", B10 title, FF levels of good, they 100% are going to have to figure out the NIL/Portal game. Because they WILL start to lose players, and miss out on players they want, if they don't have the capacity and willingness to compete in the NIL/Portal world.
Their entire model relies on player development, and keeping those developed players for multiple years. Its much more difficult to keep players from transferring, while they're developing, because there are so many schools out there willing to pay top dollar NIL money to get players. If Benter hardly plays this year because he's developing, and playing behind Loyer, Heide, Colvin, etc... And a different school, like Louisville, or Xavier, or whoever offers him both playing time and more NIL money...you don't think he's gone? If Heide does realize his potential this year, and his value jumps up to 7 figures from schools like Kansas, Carolina, etc... Are they going to be able to pay him that to stay? If Smith has an B10 POY year this year, without Edey, and his NIL value jumps to 2-3 million...will Purdue pay that? If not will Smith pass up that dollar difference in what is likely his last ever year of being able to make 7 plus figures playing basketball?
I know everything is hunky dory in West Laffy right now...but the storm clouds are forming. I doubt they're as ready for it as all the smug Purdue fans think they are.
Why are you so worried about Purdue? First IU fans say Purdue has no talent, Painter can't recruit or coach, now all the sudden Purdue has so much talent that they can't afford to keep them, and well Painter I guess can coach! Maybe IU fans should worry more about their own team keeping up with say a team like PURDUE! Fact: IU has had over 10 transfers over the last few years, I guess some of them were being under PAID! Purdue on the other hand has actually had only one transfer (Isaiah Thompson), sure they had four seniors leave to play their 5th year elsewhere, but 3 of those 4 redshirted and had spent 5 years at Purdue already! Poor Purdue they might become almost as bad as say IU! I love the IU liberal mind set, lets throw some money at it and maybe we can buy some success! Oh another thing, if I was a recruit it would be a lot more fun to play at Purdue playing against teams like Alabama, Auburn, Marquette, Texas A&M, BYU and possible North Carolina St on national TV, than playing for a team with a cupcake schedule that the BIG Ten plus loves!
My question is why do you take time to post on an IU site, when you are clearly a pu TROLL?
Listen blippy...you are a fan of a program that has never won anything. Why do you think coming here and talking smack to fans of a program that has 5 national titles is a good idea? History,and #'s are not on your side. Go back to your little hole,with all the other 2nd rate program fans.
well done! screams originality and well thought out.
Excited for Notre Dame football soon?
Sorry RedRocket....Smh...feel stupid yet? You should. I am a fan of anyone who beats Notre Dame,except purdue,but that won't be a worry now will it?
Also...excited for TKR to get pummeled by Ballo? Dumbass
Sorry my bad. I thought all IU basketball fans that did not attend campus usually throw their allegiance to Notre Dame come football season. Guess there are some outliers !
You should have stopped after "thought"...and realized it was you
Apparently Painter did offer Luke Ertel who is the backup PG for Indiana Elite. Kid looked like Braden Smith, but didn't play like him in the 1 game I saw. Looked overwhelmed I thought. Sleepers said he offered a couple other kids from 2026 too. Seems Paint is all in on developing HS kids. I salute him, but I just don't think it will work as well. Super interested to see if it does. The summer reports on this years class sound great. Sleepers said they are listing that big freshman at 7'4" now also.
Luke Ertel committed to PU apparently (Sleepers episode on it). I only watched the 1 game at an AAU tournament, but he didn't impress me at all. Didn't look like a B10 caliber player at all. So interesting that Paint is all in on developing HS guys and giving up a scholly on a kid that looks like a total project to me. Paint must not plan on using the portal much at all. Hope the kid does great there, but head scratcher to me.
Not sure what the rush is to get a player like this for ‘26. PU can wait and see how he develops and still get a commitment. Odd.
Ha. They’ve forgotten what Edey-less basketball teams require.
The Sleepers video on it, they felt like it was a head scratcher. I think his earlier offers had been like UAB, Butler and Toledo and then apparently Wake Forest offered about the time Purdue did. He backed up IE's normal starting PG but in the one game I watched, he started because their starting PG already has a FB scholly to ND, and they wanted to get him some interest. This was a showcase game, but he looked jittery and the other team was long and aggressive in the backcourt and I'd guess he had at least 5 turnovers. I'll be interested to watch, but I'll be shocked if this is who replaces Braden Smith.
He's solid. Better than most would project or evaluate probably. But they ain't winning at the levels they've been used to with guys like Ertel leading their team. He is undersized, not an elite shooter...but plays VERY hard, is very hard nosed, is solid with the ball. PJ Thompson type player eventually maybe? Not a great comp with Smith, in my opinion. His game is not nearly as varied or versatile as Smith's is.
I think I might have questioned Zachary a little bit during/right after the Rock Hill tournament. But that IE team was more than a little better, after taking in all the games that week, with Zachary running the point. And Zachary is a football first, non high major level basketball player. But Ertel was decent in that environment. He held his own for sure. He had some moments where he scored a few possessions in a row, and impacted games. But for the most part, he just initiated offense, and pestered defensively.
Yeah, it's not fair to judge off 1 game, and I didn't even know Ertel wasn't the starter, but he was really rattled and appeared unsure/not confident in the game I watched vs Darren Peterson's team. He got thrown into the fire for sure, but you don't want to see a PG get rattled and turn the ball over repeatedly. I think his high water mark will be competently running the team as a "game manager". But, if you are looking at a championship level team, I think he'd be a 2nd or even 3rd option at PG.
