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The Boilermakers picked up their first commit for 2020 with the news that in-state prospect Jaden Ivey has verbally committed to the program.
Ivey is a 6’2” shooting guard from Mishawaka that is currently ranked by the 247Sports Composite rankings as the sixth best prospect from Indiana.
Purdue got in early on Ivey, with head coach Matt Painter being the first to offer the Mishawaka Marian guard. As the recruiting process carried on Ivey also received offers from in-state programs Butler and Notre Dame.
“He gave me my first offer...that was enough in itself,” Ivey said when discussing his recruitment. “That’s when I knew.”
Ivey averaged over 25 points per game last season at the high school level and shot 39% from three. While there’s some versatility in his ability to defend, one of the biggest strengths Ivey will bring is shooting the ball. With Purdue’s offense focusing heavily on the three, Ivey should feel right at home.
While Purdue was considered the favorite to land Ivey thanks to Painter’s early involvement, there was some pressure for the guard to head elsewhere. His mother, Niele Ivey, played college basketball for Notre Dame and is now an assistant coach with the school. With her ties to Notre Dame, Ivey felt like there was some pressure to head to South Bend.
“A lot of people tried to force me to come to Notre Dame,” Ivey said about the recruiting process. “I was like ‘Nope.’”
Ivey is the first commit in a 2020 class that should likely yield three or four commits.