Breakdown: Possible Purdue prospects at the Indiana All-Stars’ Futures Game

FISHERS — Many of the top players and prospects in Indiana’s classes of 2026 and 2027 shared the court Monday night for the Indiana All-Stars organization’s Futures Game for top underclassmen.

Established Purdue Class of 2026 target Steven Reynolds was not present at Hamilton Southeastern, but several other possible Boilermaker targets were.

JASON GARDNER JR.

The Fishers sophomore-to-be and son of the former North Central and Arizona star of the same name has a long recruiting road in front of him, being so young, but also clearly a chance to be a cream-of-the-crop sort of recruit.

The point guard possesses elite speed, quickness and burst, a Jaden Ivey-ish level of athletic ability. But he also — not surprising given his pedigree — has real point guard sense and three-point potency that amplifies the threat he presents with his quickness.

Gardner Jr. has an offer from IUPUI. Purdue, Indiana, Valparaiso and Marquette, he said, are among those to show early, early interest, and Arizona, where Jason Gardner Sr. is on staff, will most likely hold sway long-term.

Fishers will take part in Purdue’s team camp in West Lafayette Tuesday.

Gardner was 7-of-9 from the floor and scored 16 points Monday night at HSE.

LUKE ERTEL

The Class of 2026 guard from Mount Vernon is on Purdue’s early radar as he plays on the same 17-and-under Indiana Elite grassroots team as Boilermaker 2025 targets Trent Sisley and Braylon Mullins. Though he is playing up classification-wise, he is playing with his age group.

Ertel is a former football player who started as just a freshman at quarterback for his high school before opting for basketball only following a foot injury that limited him as a sophomore this past season.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder scored 12 points and doled out four assists Monday night, and his seven rebounds were a game high, an example of the scrap and competitiveness that have been a defining characteristic for him, particularly on defense.

Those things, plus strong-enough three-point shooting to make him a viable multi-positional option both offensively and defensively, could have “winning qualities”-seeking high-majors (like Purdue) taking a long look here.

Toledo and UAB (where brother Michael Ertel starred) have offered.

Mount Vernon will play at Purdue’s team camp Thursday.

E.J. HAZELETT

The 2026 forward from Franklin Central wasn’t terribly involved in Monday’s all-star game — he scored two points in 16 minutes — but did show the diverse skill set that should make him a high-level mid-major target and borderline high-major.

Hazelett is tall and long, smoother than he is explosive and a decent enough athlete who can handle the ball, initiate offense and shoot from the perimeter.

Purdue’s at least had him on its radar to this point, as it has several other in-state 2026 players, a class that may not have a ton of clear early priority-level prospects. Reynolds is Purdue’s lone 2026 offer in Indiana right now and that may not change in the near term.

JAYLAN MITCHELL

The sophomore-to-be from Evansville Reitz is really something, probably the best prospect on the floor Monday night, he or Gardner at least.

The 6-8 forward was 8-of-10 from the floor in scoring a game-high 22 points. He made two threes, grabbed six rebounds and recorded four assists. He was named Game MVP.

Mitchell has already stood out this spring for Bradley Beal Elite on Nike’s EYBL circuit, attended USA Basketball events and fielded high-major offers from Illinois, TCU and Arizona State, with more to come.

MORE

• Purdue watch-list types from the 2026 class Justin Curry and Kai McGrew did some positive things Monday night.

McGrew, a big-bodied but versatile 6-8 forward from Lawrence North, made three threes and scored 17 points; Curry, a 6-3 Kyle Guy-ish guard from Noblesville, scored eight, but made some impressive jumpers. Silver Creek junior-to-be Kasen Daeger, another guard who could be a prospect in that class, made three threes.

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