Boilermakers Country

In 49 States: 12 College Basketball Players in Final Four Come From Indiana

In this year's Final Four, there will be 12 players from the state of Indiana participating. The state will account for 20% of the rosters in Phoenix this weekend. And yes, most of those players will be wearing a Purdue uniform.

Dustin Schutte

Jan 31, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3), Purdue
Jan 31, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3), Purdue / Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

When the Final Four tips off on Saturday evening in Phoenix, the state of Indiana will be represented very well. A total of 12 players from the state are on rosters heading into this year's event. And, yes, almost all of them will be suiting up for Purdue.

The Boilermakers have 11 players from the state on the roster, accounting for nearly every Indiana product participating in this year's Final Four. The lone Indiana native who will be playing for another team? North Carolina State's Jayden Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind.).

So, all 12 of the players from Indiana will be participating in the first game of the Final Four. The matchup between No. 1 Purdue and No. 11 N.C. State is scheduled for 6:09 p.m. ET.

Tony Adrangna shared the statistics in a post on X.

Indiana, by far, has more players playing in this year's Final Four than any other state. North Carolina ranked second with seven players, while Virginia, New York and Florida each had four players.

Here are the players from Indiana who will be playing in this year's Final Four:

  • Mason Gillis, Purdue — New Castle, Ind. (New Castle)
  • Caleb Furst, Purdue — Fort Wayne, Ind. (Blackhawk Christian)
  • Fletcher Loyer, Purdue — Fort Wayne, Ind. (Homestead)
  • Braden Smith, Purdue — Westfield, Ind. (Westfield)
  • Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue — Sellersburg, Ind. (Silver Creek)
  • Myles Colvin, Purdue — Indianapolis, Ind. (Heritage Christian)
  • Brian Waddell, Purdue — Carmel, Ind. (Carmel)
  • Josh Furst, Purdue — Fort Wayne, Ind. (Blackhawk Christian)
  • Sam King, Purdue — Columbus, Ind. (Columbus North)
  • Jace Rayl, Purdue — Kokomo, Ind. (Kokomo)
  • Carson Barrett, Purdue — Lafayette, Ind. (Central Catholic)
  • Jayden Taylor, North Carolina State — Indianapolis, Ind. (Perry Meridian)

Related stories

  • GILLS STILL READY TO ACHIEVE MORE: Purdue senior star Mason Gillis was emotional after the Elite Eight win over Tennessee to advance to the Final Four. But Gillis made it clear that the Boilermakers aren't satisfied with simply getting to Phoenix. CLICK HERE
  • FINAL FOUR OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED: The NCAA has announced the 11 officials who will work the 2024 Final Four. Games are scheduled for Saturday, April 6 and Monday, April 8 in Phoenix. CLICK HERE
  • EDEY, KEADY SHARE MOMENT: After Purdue's 72-66 win over Tennessee in the Elite Eight, Zach Edey cut down a piece of the net for former coach Gene Keady to take. Keady was the leader of the Boilers from 1980-2005, but never reached the Final Four. CLICK HERE
  • WHAT MATT PAINTER SAID: For the first time as a coach, Matt Painter is heading to the Final Four. Here's everything the longtime leader of the Boilermakers said following Purdue's 72-66 win over Tennessee in the Elite Eight. CLICK HERE
Published
Dustin Schutte

DUSTIN SCHUTTE