Following a ceremony honoring his collegiate career, 2007 Valparaiso High School graduate Robbie Hummel’s jersey will forever hang in the rafters of Purdue University’s Mackey Arena.
Hummel, one of the greatest basketball players in Purdue history, is the 21st Boiler to have his number displayed above the crowds in Mackey Arena. The ceremony was held during halftime of a Big Ten battle against Michigan State, one of the nation’s top teams.
“It still blows my mind that I’m up in the rafters,” said Hummel during the halftime ceremony before thanking his family for coming and their support. He mentioned the first game he attended at Purdue was the 1994 VHS Semi-State game against East Chicago."
“It has come full circle for me to see my name next to one of my buddies, E’Twaun Moore,” he said. “Then you throw in JuJuan Johnson, and we had quite a crew.”
Student section chanted, “Rob-bie Rob-bie Rob-bie” after Hummel thanked the Purdue fans for being the “best fans in America.”
“It’s a tremendous honor,” Hummel continued. “It’s been a pleasure to play in front of you and I’ve loved every minute."
As a three-time 1st Team All Big-Ten and 2nd-team All American in 2010, Robbie Hummel will finish among the elite in Big Ten since 2000 in statistics including total rebounds (8th), turnover percentage (4th), Player Efficiency Rating (6th), and Win Shares (4th). He finished playing as Purdue’s 9th-highest scorer, 4th-best rebounder, and put up totals with assists, steals, and blocks that put him in rarefied air in Boilermaker history.
Hummel wasn’t always the team leader in statistics like points, rebounds, or assists -- those categories were usually led by teammates like Lewis Jackson, E-Twaun Moore, or JuJuan Johnson. Instead, Hummel was known more for his intangibles, like defense (usually guarding the opponent’s best player on the wing or down low), sure handedness, and ability to handle the ball and bring it up the court, a rare skill for someone his size.
Hummel was also a key member of the 2009-10 team, ranked third in the nation and a lock for a #1-seed in the NCAA Tournament before he tore an ACL in his knee for the second time. He sat the next season due to another tear to his ACL, but returned for his fifth season as a red-shirt senior to lead the Boilers into the NCAA tournament. Purdue lost Hummel’s final game in a close contest in the third round against the Thomas Robinson-led Kansas Jayhawks, a team that ultimately would become the National Championship runner-up.
Robbie Hummel’s collegiate career could be used an example of the ultimate team player and he will go down as one of the best and most memorable players in the Big Ten for his generation.
I am sure the Valparaiso community would join me in saying, "Congratulations Robbie, you deserve it!"