247 reports these 2026 recruits/players as having warm interest in Purdue: Taylen Kinney (pg), Junior County (sg), Brandon Bass Jr (sg), Steven Reynolds (sg), Bo Ogden (sf) Trey Thompson (pf) to go along with Luke Ertel (cg) who is committed…
2026 recruits
- Thread starter Heads up BOILER
- Start date
Look like good prospects to go with Ertel. The right freshmen can make a huge difference for a team, as they did at MSU & MD this year. Needed in the post Smith era.
One thing for sure it's always good to have a Bass on the line. Vbg
Wow they are all top recruits nice. But I can’t get as excited as I used for high school recruits with the transfer portal now.
This season has a lot of transfer portal emphasis as Purdue is positioned for a run at the National Championship, but this is still a developmental program and I think that you will continue to see Painter put his primary focus on high school recruiting.
Also were in early on 6-8 smooth shooting wing Anthony Thompson from Ohio. He's now a 5 star and all the Blue Bloods want him. Probably a long shot, but will be someone to keep an eye on if Painter keeps recruiting him.
Will also be interesting to see what other 4 and 5s they start recruiting.
TKR and Cluf are gone.
With his length, mobility, rim protection, shooting potential Jacobson is one solid year from sniffing NBA draft boards. Probably not happening, but can see world where NBA scouts love the guy.
That also leaves Burgess. Think adding a PF and a Center will be crucial. Maybe with Purdue’s success with Center the Portal will be way to go for guys who want to be featured though?
Anthony Thompson would be a great addition…he has a good head on his shoulders…obviously outstanding player. My best friend’s son is his best friend.
Yah I saw him listed as a recruit and yes he’d be a fabulous addition to my original list… he was just not listed as one of the recruits on 247 as warm on the status. The entire list of recruits is very good. Luke Ertel may be the lowest rated recruit on the list currently but I have heard nothing but great reports about our current lone commit in the class. I saw in a search Trey Thompson is now getting a lot more attention from big name programs. Uk, Louisville,Tn… at one point it seemed he may become an early commit and it was between us and Tennessee but not sure that’s the case anymore.
From a Black and Gold 4/3 article:
• Job 1 in 2026 recruiting might be continuing to advance with forward Trey Thompson, who we still have reason to believe is leaning to Purdue. Tennessee has offered but how serious they’ve been, we don’t know. They’re going to be portal-crazy and Purdue is going to keep prioritizing high school guys. And now Rick Barnes’ longevity in Knoxville is becoming a public conversation based on the press conference we overheard while working at Lucas Oil Stadium last week.
• PJ Thompson was at Chipotle Nationals Thursday night — the national prep school championship — watching (at least) 2026 guard targets Felipe Quinones of IMG and Junior County, who plays for Wasatch Academy in Utah, where Heide spent his senior year. Heide sat on Wasatch’s bench Thursday night, we’re told.
Good for Painter. That approach will resonate with the Purdue fan base, if Painter can maintain it.
I have a couple of friends at the Cincinnati aau tournament this weekend and they both love Ertel but they said that Thompson is one of the smoothest players they have seen in a long time.
When I see highlights can't help but think of Calbert Chaney with his length and that lefty jumper.
That comment/evaluation reminds me of things being said when we were recruiting/signing Jaraan Cornell. Damn Michael Lewis.
Start a Go-Fund-Me .... No need to mess with the rules!!!
Lots of good options!!
Ertle looks like a future star in the making that committed pretty early so he hasn't got the fame from the recruiting sites. I hear nothing but good things about him so I’m excited to see him at Purdue!
Kinney looks like a good player at the point position so I would assume Ertle plays the 1 or 2 if they are still actively recruiting the pg position.
They need some 6’5”+ guys so I’d be thrilled to see Reynolds-SG and Ogden/Thompson-SF in the class.
Take a 3/4 person high school class then let the portal do the rest of the filling.
Isn't Reynolds the guy with twin sisters that just transferred from Purdue?
I don't think they are twins, but yes, he's their brother.
He does play with Luke Ertels in AAU which can't hurt. But yeah, he's probably not coming to Purdue.
When are some of these schools going to get it painter understand things you lose smith after this year what does he do go get smith 2.0 this guy is going to be a problem in the big ten for years
Imagine the backcourt his sophomore year with seniors Cox and Harris, potentially West and Mayer as juniors. Yikes, that is some firepower in the backcourt the next 2-5 years.
And Benter as just a pure shooter. Paint has such a good track record with Benter types (not that he is the same exact type of player as Loyer/Cline/Mathias/Sasha/Ryne), but a taller guard who can shoot the heck out of the ball and just knows how to play.
Now none of those other guys ever broke a backboard in HS like Benter, so I'm hopeful he's the best of that bunch yet!
Speaking of the Reynolds family….guess they are a package deal to move/leave the South Bend area?
Not sure I have ever seen anything quite like that in recruiting. “Package deal” is one way to say it.
Don't think we're missing anything with these kinds of kids going elsewhere.
Reynolds is a legit talent but always found it curious why his recruiting hasn’t gone more national. He is top 75 probably could be top 50, yet not a lot of major programs chasing him.
Not reading into anything just found it odd
I’m usually all in to drink the Kool Aid but I won’t get excited about that back court until I see that at least a couple of those guys are able to excel in a lead role. It could be any one of those four or Benter but someone needs to fill the Carsen/Jaden/Braden alpha role.
I trust in Painter and am optimistic that someone will be able to fill that role, I just have no idea who it will be at this point.
With those 4, I would be shocked if it's not Mayer. But would be happy with any of them. Although with the current environment, doubt we keep all those guys
Look like a package deal to be in a movie with Sandra Bullock.
Always thought she was a little homely until I saw her in Blind Side. Smokeshow in that movie.
Agree with you longer term. I would be surprised (though not shocked) to see any of those guys leave before the end of next season. The opportunity to play a role n a NC contender and the compete for a starring role the next year is a pretty good pitch.
