50+ Years Later, The Rocket Still Tops List of Boiler Shooting Guards

Purdue's all-time greatest shooting guards hail from Indiana's rich high school basketball tradition.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

A look at Purdue's top 10 shooting guards from the 1960s to the present, with Indiana native Rick Mount topping the list. The article highlights the impressive careers of several Boilermaker standouts, including E'Twaun Moore, Carsen Edwards, and Troy Lewis, all of whom hail from the Hoosier state.

Why it matters

Indiana has long been known for producing exceptional high school basketball talent, and this article showcases how that tradition has translated to success at the collegiate level for Purdue. The Boilermakers' rich history of elite shooting guards underscores the state's enduring impact on the sport.

The details

The article ranks Purdue's top 10 shooting guards from the 1960s to the present, with 70% of the list comprising players from Indiana high schools. Rick Mount, the 1966 Indiana Mr. Basketball from Lebanon, leads the pack with a career scoring average of 32.3 points per game, the highest in Purdue history. Other standouts include E'Twaun Moore, Carsen Edwards, Troy Lewis, and Chad Austin, all of whom put up impressive numbers and accolades during their time with the Boilermakers.

  • Rick Mount played his last game in a Purdue uniform 56 years ago.
  • E'Twaun Moore left Purdue following the 2010-11 season.
  • Carsen Edwards played for Purdue in 2019.
  • Troy Lewis played for Purdue in the 1980s.
  • Chad Austin completed his Purdue career in 1998.

The players

Rick Mount

A two-time first-team All-American and two-time Big Ten Player of the Year, Mount scored in double figures in all 72 games of his Purdue career and had at least 30 points in 46 of those games, both Purdue records.

E'Twaun Moore

One of three men on this list with more than 2,000 career points, Moore was the third player in Big Ten history with at least 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 400 assists in his career.

Carsen Edwards

Purdue's first winner of the Jerry West Award as the nation's top shooting guard, Edwards set an NCAA tournament record with 28 3-pointers made.

Troy Lewis

After leading Purdue in scoring as a sophomore, junior, and senior, the 1984 co-Indiana Mr. Basketball from Anderson left Purdue with 2,038 points.

Chad Austin

The Richmond native was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and is best remembered by Purdue fans for making two game-winning shots at Indiana.

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The takeaway

This article highlights the enduring impact of Indiana's rich high school basketball tradition on the success of Purdue's basketball program, with the majority of the Boilermakers' all-time great shooting guards hailing from the Hoosier state. It underscores the state's outsized influence on the sport and the continued importance of local talent in building successful college basketball teams.