Purdue coach Matt Painter is already casting his gaze towards the 2027 recruiting class, and the Boilermakers have recently extended an offer to an emerging talent from Fishers, Indiana. On Wednesday, guard Jason Gardner Jr. received a scholarship offer from Purdue, marking a significant step in his recruiting journey.
Gardner, a 6-foot guard, has now attracted attention from several programs. Before Purdue’s offer, he had already drawn interest from Indiana University-Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Notably, Gardner is the first player in the 2027 recruiting class to receive an offer from the Boilermakers.
Expressing his excitement about the offer, Gardner took to social media to share his gratitude, writing, “Beyond blessed to receive a Division 1 offer from Purdue University. Go Boilermakers.
During the previous high school season at Fishers High School, Gardner demonstrated his skills on the court by averaging 7.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. His performance contributed to the team’s impressive 29-1 record for the season, culminating in a victory over Ben Davis to secure the IHSAA Class 4A State Championship.
Gardner has also showcased his talent on the national stage with Indiana Elite on the 15U 3SSB circuit, where he averaged an impressive 18.8 points per game, according to Boiler Upload.
Adding to Gardner’s profile is his lineage. He is the son of Jason Gardner, a well-known former basketball star from Indiana. The elder Gardner, a product of North Central High School, was honored as Indiana Mr. Basketball in 1999. He went on to have a distinguished college career at Arizona under coach Lute Olson, where he earned All-Pac-10 honors three times and helped lead the team to the 2001 Final Four.
This summer, Painter and his recruiting team have been primarily focused on the 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes. However, Gardner’s potential has clearly caught their eye, prompting Purdue to act early and offer him a scholarship. This early interest underscores the Boilermakers’ recognition of Gardner’s potential and their desire to be at the forefront of his recruitment.
Purdue’s proactive approach highlights their commitment to identifying and nurturing future talent, with Gardner being a prime example of their forward-thinking strategy in recruiting.
