Purdue
Scout Report
A 6-1 point guard who can run an offense with the precision of a chess master while still being young enough to drive with a learner's permit.
Background
Hailing from Mount Vernon, Indiana, Luke Ertel has been making waves throughout the basketball community while suiting up for Mt. Vernon High School. The Indiana native has built his reputation on the AAU circuit and high school ranks, establishing himself as one of the premier floor generals in his class.
Playing Style
Ertel possesses the ideal combination of size and court vision that college coaches covet in a modern point guard. His 6-1 frame allows him to see over defenders and create passing lanes that shorter guards simply cannot access. He demonstrates exceptional basketball IQ, consistently making the right read in transition and half-court sets. While his passing ability stands out as his premier skill, he's also shown the ability to score when needed, though continued development of his outside shot will be crucial for his college success.
Recruitment
Ranked #41 nationally in the class of 2026, Ertel attracted serious attention from quality programs before ultimately committing to Purdue. His impressive offer sheet included Wake Forest, Butler, Kent State, Ohio, Toledo, UAB, and Fordham, demonstrating the wide appeal of his skill set. The Boilermakers secured a commitment from a player who projects as a multi-year contributor with the ceiling of a conference-level starter.
Updated Feb 17, 2026 · Analysis by PrepRadar Scouting Team
Career Journey
Purdue
COLLEGE
Mt. Vernon
PREP SCHOOL
Indy Heat
AAU
Career Highlights
Luke Ertel records 24 points, 13 assists, 9 rebounds performance at Harrison HS
Luke Ertel breaks school record for most points in school history
Luke Ertel breaks Mt Vernon all time scoring record
Luke Ertel breaks MV boys basketball scoring record with 1390 points, surpassing Tim Miller's 1998 record
Luke Ertel named to Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year Midseason Team (1 of 25 players nationally)
Luke Ertel scores 26 points with 15 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals in Mt. Vernon's 62-47 win over Pendleton Heights
Luke Ertel featured on Thursday Night Tailgate video podcast as Mr. Basketball hopeful
Luke Ertel averaged 5.9 assists against 2.4 turnovers and made 53% of unguarded catch-and-shoot 3s in 3SSB Circuit
Luke Ertel named Day 3 Winner for Consistency Kills
Thursday Night Tailgate podcast interview discussing Mr. Basketball hopes
Offers
8
Purdue
Committed
Chose Purdue over 7 other offers
Wake Forest
OhioSocial Activity
Indiana Elite 17u advanced to the quarterfinals with an 80-67 win over Mass Rivals 17u. Anthony Thompson finished with 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals. Another offensive performance! Purdue commit Luke Ertel added 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. @IndianaEliteIE #3SSB
Back in Rock Hill for the Adidas Championships and Purdue commit 2026 Luke Ertel has been amazing this morning — a Matt Painter type of guy — 6-foot-2 big time shot maker and creator, plays hard, and can operate an offense. 19 points 45% FG, 10, and 6 assists in a win today. https://t.co/EFxkcYsAhZ
This is what aggressiveness and competitiveness look like. He never quits on a play and doesn’t care what the score is. He knows how and when to run the show or be the show! Purdue has a gem in @ErtelLuke, @3SSBCircuit, and @BoilerBall. https://t.co/KtXiVhR6jf
The best players I saw this week at the 3SSB Palmetto Road Championship… Bruce Branch III (2027) Luke Ertel Caleb Holt Carlos Medlock Jr. Bo Ogden Adam Oumiddoch Antonio Pemberton (2027) Deron Rippey Jr. Anthony Thompson Jacob Webber Kamari Whyte (2027) Christian Wiggins #3SSB https://t.co/wjGFCvMNZ0
Anthony Thompson's teammate with @IndianaEliteIE, Luke Ertel, was also terrific this past week. The Indiana native has been battling an ankle injury, but did everything: Ran the team, got into the paint and make quality decisions when to score and when to distribute the ball.