Painter raves about shooting in 2026 recruiting class

Shooting, shooting, shooting. You can never get enough of it. That’s the theme of Purdue men’s basketball’s 2026 recruiting haul, according to coach Matt Painter. Painter discussed the Boilermakers’ three current member of the class, comprised of four-star guards Luke Ertel and Jacob Webber, as well as three-star forward Rivers Knight during his Wednesday press conference.

“I think there’s a lot of similarities there, especially everybody’s ability to shoot, you know, when you talk about our class with these three guys. So I think that’s the one thing that jumps out, is just that ability to shoot the basketball. And for us, that’s what we need, like, we need that space. We need everybody to be worried about on the floor. I think that gives you a really good balance, really good spacing,” Painter said.

The class ranks as the 26th-best in the nation, according to the Rivals team recruiting rankings. The group could see another addition, as well, as Purdue awaits the decision of four-star Georgetown Preparatory School (Md.) center Sinan Huan.

For now, the class is comprised of a trio of lethal shooters from the perimeter, all of which Painter broke down on Wednesday.

Four-star small forward Jacob Webber: La Lumiere (Ind.)

Webber comes in as Purdue’s highest-rated recruit in the class and highest under the Rivals/On3 banner since Caleb Swanigan in 2015, sitting at No. 33 in the Rivals rankings. Webber is heralded as one of the top three-point marksmen in the class and Painter expects the Nebraska native to be an “absolute weapon” for the Boilermakers offensively when he gets to campus.

“Jacob Weber gives us great positional size as a guard, probably the best move and shoot guy in the country, great size. Has a uncanny ability to be able to sprint in and get his feet organized and be able to twist all in one motion and shoot, to 25-28 feet, and do it consistently,” Painter said. “We think he’s the most prolific shooter in the country.”

Webber’s size (6-feet-6-inches) and shooting pedigree offers an intriguing fit into Purdue’s offensive system, where he can come off screens and be looked to as a potential go-to shooter in West Lafayette, and thus, space the floor for his teammates as well. Webber could play the two or the three for the Boilermakers.

“He’s definitely going to help us in terms of our spacing and how we run things,” Painter said. “You got to give him a lot of attention, and you got to stick with him. And with that, if you want to take him out of the game, you’ve just created a lot of space for everybody else to play.”

Four-star point guard Luke Ertel: Mt. Vernon (Ind.)

The first commit in the cycle and potential point guard of the future after the departure of Braden Smith next off-season. Luke Ertel has sky-rocketed since his commitment to Purdue back in August 2024 and is poised to be a large part of the backcourt when he gets to campus next season.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen like a high school guy that we’ve taken like with more intestinal fortitude. Just [a] determined player, tough, hard nosed, gets after it, picks you up full court, bird-dogs the basketball,” Painter said.

The growth on the court has come on the offensive end, particularly in widening his shot-making arsenal over the last year or so, according to Painter.

“He’s really improved his arsenal in terms of shooting the basketball, not just catch and shoot, but getting to his pull up, get into bodies, bouncing off bodies, being able to make floaters and runners,” Painter said.

“He’s put a lot of time into his game,” Painter said. “That’s really what you want, and what we’re going towards is, you know, those guys that are skilled, are skilled because they’ve put in a lot of time. And having a locker room of guys that are workers that are skilled, and it really helps us from an offensive standpoint.”

Three-star power forward Rivers Knight: La Lumiere (Ind.)

The second of two La Lumiere talents headed to West Lafayette next season will be three-star Rivers Knight. The versatile forward was injured and subsequently missed this summer, but the Purdue staff saw enough in the North Carolina native to add him to the class, and the root of it is his shooting ability at 6-feet-9-inches.

“Good size, quick release, prolific shooter, also a guy that can really stretch the defense, and I think that’s a very important thing, you know, at that four position. If we’re able to continue to get good size and keep developing size, whether they’re low post guys or lob threats or what have you. I think having a guy like Rivers, who’s got range to 25 feet that can consistently knock down shots, is really going to help you,” Painter said.

An injury during his junior season halted the recruiting process for awhile, but Purdue took a chance on Knight after getting a glimpse of his athleticism, size and shooting ability for the position.

“I think he’s got more to him as a player, and I think that’s all coming. He’s really done a good job of getting in shape and getting his body right after his injury last winter. So very excited about him. It was a short recruiting thing for us, and I think it was just kind of the right place at the right time. And PJ (Thompson) had stayed on it and just liked what we had saw in terms of his athleticism, his size, but what really separated him was the skill level,” Painter said.

Painter views Knight as a seamless fit at the four, where he would pair alongside the five well and be able to create space. He also floated out the idea of Knight potentially seeing time at the five, or even the three.

“Rivers, I look at as a four. Maybe he could be a small ball five. Maybe he can swing over as a three, like, I don’t know, time will tell. But I know he’s going to be really good, at the four,” Painter said.

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