Boilermakers Country

Purdue's 3 Basketball Commits All Sign on Wednesday

The Boilermakers' exceptional class is currently ranked No. 14 in the country and No. 2 in the Big Ten.

Tom Brew

Purdue's 3 Basketball Commits All Sign on Wednesday
Purdue's 3 Basketball Commits All Sign on Wednesday /

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue's three basketball commitments all signed their letters of intent on Wednesday, completing a class that currently ranks No. 14 in the country and No. 2 in the Big Ten, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Purdue picked up two 4-star guards in Mishawaka's Jaden Ivey and Ethan Morton of Butler, Pa. Ivey was recently moved up to No. 1 in the state of Indiana in 247's composite rankings.

The Boilermakers also signed 7-foot-3 center Zach Edey, a Canadian who's playing at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

“I think this class is really going to help us,'' Purdue coach Matt Painter said "We were able to sign two really good guards in Ethan (Morton) and Jaden (Ivey) and then a center like Zach Edey after reclassifying is big for our program.

“This is a very strong group with high basketball IQs and athleticism and will fit with our program very well.”

Here's a quick look at all three players:

Jaden Ivey, 6-foot-3 guard (Mishawaka, Ind.) 

Ivey averaged 25.1 points per game last year for Mishawaka Marian, but he has transferred to LaLumiere Prep this past summer. He's an explosive guard that will fit perfectly in Purdue's offense. He shot 40 percent from 3-point range a year ago.

“Jaden gives us elite speed and athleticism to go along with a great work ethic,'' Painter said. "He has put a lot of time into his game and has worked hard to get to where he is at. He’s a late developer, but has a very high ceiling with his athleticism and ability. He can really break people down off the dribble. He has the potential to be an outstanding defensive player.”

Ethan Morton, 6-foot-6 guard (Butler, Pa.)

Morton averaged 27.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists as a junior at Butler Area High School just outside of Pittsburgh. He's a tall do-it-all point guard who is great passer.

“Ethan might be the best passer we have recruited here at Purdue. He really understands the game and knows what is going on. He makes other people better and really plays hard. He has good athleticism and will be able to play other positions, using his versatility. I like him as an offensive point guard because he knows where everyone is on the floor. He gets the ball where and when it needs to be and is a tremendous leader.”

Zach Edey, 7-foot-3 center (Canada, IMG Academy)

Edey is a 3-star big man who chose Purdue over Baylor and Santa Clara. He's a bit of an unknown because he reclassified from the Class of 2021 to 2020 and grew up in Toronto before moving to Florida to play at IMG. He was attracted to Purdue's history to develop big men like Isaac Haas and Matt Haarms. He's the tallest Boilermaker ever, tied with Haarms at 7-foot-3.

“We are very excited that Zach chose to reclassify, which gave us the opportunity to recruit him. He’s got tremendous upside and can move really well for someone his size. He can get up and down the court and has a really good feel for what is happening on the floor. He isn’t just a low-post player and that is something that is developing with his size, in that they can do other things. We are really looking forward in helping him develop and working with him. He is somewhere between Isaac Haas and Matt Haarms.”

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Tom Brew
TOM BREW

Tom Brew is an award-winning journalist who's worked at some America's finest newspapers, including the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Indianapolis Star. He also owns the book publishing company, Hilltop30 Publishing Group, and he has written four books and published 16 others.

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