Purdue Signee Luke Ertel Participating in High School Final Four Weekend Event
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Just one week after leading Mt. Vernon to a state championship, incoming Purdue guard Luke Ertel will be back on the big stage, this time at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Ertel will participate in Friday night's State Farm College Slam Dunk and 3-Point Championships. The Mt. Vernon Athletics social media page announced the news with a post on X this week.
The future Boilermaker will participate against other high school players for a chance to add another trophy to his growing collection. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 3, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
We aren’t done with b-ball yet…come out to historic Hinkle Fieldhouse to watch Luke compete in the College 3-Point Championship this Friday at the State Farm College Slam Dunk and 3-Point Competition. Discount code below!https://t.co/Vb1wQBS76f
— Mt. Vernon Athletics (@mvmarauders) April 2, 2026
Use code SWISH3 for $15 off… pic.twitter.com/yftpjImOt6
This is the same event that Purdue senior guard Fletcher Loyer is also participating in to close out his career with the Boilermakers. The sharp-shooter is the program's all-time leader in made three-pointers.
Loyer actually won the event as a high school senior back in 2022 prior to his arrival at Purdue.
Although the event is scheduled for Friday in Indianapolis, it will not air on television until Sunday, April 5. ESPN will broadcast the event at 1:30 p.m. ET that day.
Ertel ends high school career on high note
Ertel recently capped his high school career in the best way imaginable. The senior point guard led Mt. Vernon to its first IHSAA state basketball championship, defeating Crown Point in the 4A State Championship Game 52-50.
The senior guard was outstanding in his final game with the Marauders, scoring 26 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out six assists in the victory. Mt. Vernon ended the season with a 28-3 record, winning its final 11 games of the year.
"The emotions, I can't really describe it. I'm kinda speechless," Ertel told Kyle Neddenriep of The Indianapolis Star. "It's something you dream about growing up. To be here in Gainbridge, it felt like we were NBA players. It was just crazy."
For the season, Ertel averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He was named the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year and is the frontrunner for the Indiana Mr. Basketball award, presented to the top player in the state.
Ertel is a four-star point guard and brings a lot of hype and excitement with him to Purdue. He will be competing with Omer Mayer for minutes at the position this summer and fall.
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Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.
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