GoldandBlack.com basketball beat writer Brian Neubert joins host Alan Karpick for the June 21, 2025, show. There is discussion about this weekend’s Charlie Hughes basketball event in Carmel and Westfield, what Neubert will ask Purdue athletics director Mike Bobinski when he sees him early next week, Daniel Jacobsen making the U19 team, and much more.

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NOAH SMITH PUTS UP BIG NUMBERS

After an excellent showing last week at Purdue’s team camp, Plainfield forward Noah Smith displayed more of the same in his team’s first two Charlie Hughes games, scoring 28 points in a narrow loss to a very good South Bend St. Joseph team, then 29 points in a win over a strong Silver Creek team.

The 6-foot-9 Class of 2026 forward is an excellent multi-level shooter, with a distinctly pure stroke on three-pointers and mid-range shots alike and a real knack for making one-handers in the lane and around the rim. Friday, he was productive posting up smaller players and making hook shots over them. He finished In transition well and while he doesn’t necessarily overwhelm people physically, he did rebound with real ferocity at times Friday. Smith is likely to project as a stretch forward at the next level, but is ostensibly Plainfield’s center, so coaches evaluating him have to view him in that context.

Purdue has maintained interest in Smith since he was a freshman, and will undoubtedly keeping watching him closely this weekend and into July as it rounds up new forward targets for what should be a robust 2026 signing class.

SATURDAY IN CARMEL AND WESTFIELD

The Charlie Hughes schedule staggers team’s schedules, so while Mount Vernon and Plainfield finish up Saturday, Pike — with Purdue 2027 priority Isaiah Hill — will play its first two games, a glimpse of what name-brand programs will make the effort to come to Indy for Hill.

Also tipping off Saturday: Fishers, with 2027 guards Jason Gardner Jr. and Cooper Zachary. Avon has 2026 prospect Keriawn Berry as well; he’s been watched by Purdue for months now.

PURDUE’S WHEREABOUTS

Assistant coach Brandon Brantley was at Charlie Hughes Friday, watching both of Smith’s first two games and the two minutes Ertel played.

Matt Painter spent Friday in Tennessee for 2026 forward target Trey Thompson. Assistant Paul Lusk was in Boston, presumably for newly offered forward Quinn Costello.

Stay tuned to GoldandBlack.com throughout the weekend for much more from Charlie Hughes and other evaluation period happenings.

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2028 in-state guard Noah Washington talks “surreal moment” of first offer from Purdue

by:Dub Jellison•12 hours ago•

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WESTFIELD, Ind. – As 2028 guard Noah Washington made the trek to West Lafayette earlier this month for Purdue’s team camp with his New Albany (Ind.) teammates, he wanted the opportunity to just speak with head coach Matt Painter. He got that and more out of the trip, however.

“Going up there to Purdue camp, I wasn’t expecting to get an offer. I played good up there and I was hoping that I could talk to Coach Painter,” Washington said. “When he told me, I was blown away. I was completely shocked, looked at my dad, he was completely shocked. It was just a surreal moment.”

Aside from the special moment that was Painter giving him the good news of what will be the first of many offers during his recruitment, his conversation with the Boilermakers’ head coach stood out as a memorable one.

“He likes basketball a lot. You can just tell right away when you’re talking to him. Coach Painter knows a lot about basketball, and he’s been doing it for a while, and is also just a great dude. Like when I was talking to him, we were talking about values, what he values, his family, stuff like that. Just that normal conversation with a high Power 5 coach like that. That doesn’t happen very often, which is why I’m very grateful for it,” Washington said.

Painter and the Boilermakers became the first program to offer Washington, who is already widely considered as one of the top prospects in Indiana’s current freshman class. The New Albany standout participated in the Indiana All-Stars Futures game and training camp for the 2025 USA Men’s U16 National Team earlier this summer, as his stock starts to rise.

The 6-foot-4 guard was one of several Purdue targets participating in the annual Charlie Hughes Showcase in Carmel and Westfield on Friday, along with 2026 commit and Mt. Vernon guard Luke Ertel, 2027 Pike big man Isaiah Hill, and others.

In his second game of the day, he and New Albany struggled to get much going offensively, as they fell 65-46 to Terre Haute North, while Washington finished with seven points on the afternoon. That outing came on the heels of a 60-55 victory over Parke Heritage in New Albany’s debut game of the weekend. Despite the subpar offensive showing by Washington’s own standards, his shot-making ability is something he believes coaches like most about his game.

“I’d say one thing they like about my game is, most games, I can usually knock down some shots, not this game, but usually that’s what I go to before anything else,” Washington said. “I feel like I’m very confident in my shot. But also, I think coaches like that I’m able to speak to them, because some kids, I mean, they can’t hold a conversation when they’re talking to coaches. So I feel like that’s another big thing, them seeing how I interact with my teammates and coaches and how I talk to them.”

Washington’s scoring prowess is what has put him on the map as just a freshman, but he is looking to improve upon his point guard and ball handling skills as he continues to develop, which is where he sees himself at the collegiate level.

“I feel like going into college, I definitely want to be a point guard, because that gives you a better chance. I mean, being a tall point guard gives you a good chance of going pro, and also just going straight into college and playing because, I mean, it’s hard to find height like that, especially if they’re playing defense and they’re rebounding,” Washington said.

“I know I need to be able to get around people better. I can do it, but I know if I keep working, by next year or the year after that, it’ll be too easy. So that’s what I want to get to. That’s where I really want to get, like to the point where I can just make a move and they can’t stay with me,” Washington said.

Washington has his sights set on having similarities to an All-American and National Championship winning guard, who he grew to be a fan of this season, while Florida made its run in the NCAA Tournament. It is the Gators’ point guard that Washington hopes to resemble when he reaches the college game.

“Someone I watched a lot was Walter Clayton. I really love watching him play,” Washington said. “Just the way he shoots, and also strong, physical, gets to the rim. I want to be like that when I’m older.”

Washington hopes to make it back to West Lafayette this fall for an unofficial visit as he embarks on what could be a national recruitment for the rising in-state guard.