Lafayette Jefferson HS to host Purdue Alumni Basketball Game

Traditionally, the Purdue Basketball Alumni game takes place every other year in Mackey Arena. In the alumni game, the current Boilermaker squad will rub shoulders and play a great game of basketball with former Purdue players. In games past, Coach Painter will coach one of the teams, while Gene Keady returns to his court to coach the other team.

However, with Mackey Arena needing a new floor after a water main break earlier this year, the game had to be moved elsewhere. (Purdue is already in the process of installing the new floor, but it might not be ready until September when Purdue Volleyball hosts IU in Mackey on September 24th.) Thankfully, the game won’t be far away, as Lafayette Jefferson High School has graciously offered their gym for the game on August 6th.

I’m sure some of us might grumble about the game not being in Mackey and how Purdue couldn’t get the court fixed sooner, but I think Laff Jeff might be a great location for this game.

• Jeff’s gym holds 7,200, making it the 11th largest high school gym in the nation, and 10th largest in Indiana. The 2012 Alumni game drew in nearly 10,000 fans. I’m not sure about the 2014 game, but either way we could see a nearly sold-out crowd this year.
• Purdue Basketball used Laff. Jeff. as its home in 1929 and again from 1934-1937. I doubt we’ll have basketball alumni at the game who played in Jeff back then, but there is a nice historical aspect about it.
• Kyle mentioned in our staff GroupMe that Jeff hosts semi-state every year.
• Other than the Wabash, there seems to be a divide between Purdue/West Lafayette and the rest of Lafayette (just my observation). Hopefully this event can draw in more local fans by having it take place in the middle of Lafayette.
• Maybe Laff Jeff has AC, unlike Mackey? I’m not familiar with the gym so if someone could provide extra details that would be great. Jefferson’s Gym does have air-conditioning! I missed that small detail in the Purdue press release.

Following the biennial Alumni Game, the Purdue Basketball team will host an intrasquad scrimmage for the fans in attendance, as they will be departing to Spain the next day.

Just as in years past, I presume that we will offer coverage of the Alumni Game and intrasquad scrimmage, so stay tuned! Tickets for the game start at $5.