Dakota Mathias said over and over again this weekend that his college decision would be coming "very soon," almost a "wink-wink" sort of situation considering his affinity for Purdue.

Turns out, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Elida, Ohio, wasn't kidding when he said "soon."

While riding back home from Fort Wayne - where Mathias starred at the Hensley Memorial Run 'N Slam - he called Boilermaker coach Matt Painter and gave Purdue its first 2014 commitment.

"I was really close (to committing) going into this weekend," Mathias said, "and I got to talk with my parents on the drive back from Fort Wayne. It seemed like the timing was right and we all felt really good about it.

"We decided not to wait any longer."

It took a few months for Mathias' commitment to materialize, but Purdue led from the day it offered him a scholarship during the season.

He unofficially visited West Lafayette during the season, then made his official visit earlier this spring. Painter made an in-home visit last Monday, as Purdue did all it could to secure an early commitment.

It might have done so just in the nick of the time.

Mathias, known most for his perimeter shooting but not just his perimeter shooting, burst on the national radar with a strong showing at this weekend's Spiece tournament, scoring 36 and 31 points in games Saturday, then 28 in Northwest Ohio Basketball Club's competitive loss to loaded Team Thad in the event's final four Sunday.

Boston College offered and hosted Mathias for an official visit. West Virginia and Dayton are among those that also offered. Butler and Xavier recruited him. Stanford made an in-home visit and Louisville called to express interest.

Had he given word of his showings in Fort Wayne time to percolate, the list of those interested might have exploded.

He hardly gave it a second thought.

As Mathias more or less said prior to committing, he had the offer(s) he needed already.

"It was everything," Mathias said of Purdue. "The coaching staff is great to be around. And so were all the other people I met there in the academic department. I went to one of their games and it wasn't really a big-time game (against Penn State) but the fans were still great, and all the students were there. It was a great atmosphere."

The story of Mathias and Purdue right now boils down to this: Right recruit, right time.

That was Painter's message to Mathias, who's an outstanding shooter, but also a skilled enough player to be a lead guard and playmaker for both his high school and AAU teams.

Purdue's team this season was woefully thin on perimeter shooting and skill in general, ad Painter's told anybody who'll listen.

Mathias, at worst, fills a need, a few of them actually.

"That's what Coach Painter stressed to me," Mathias said, "that they need a guy who can dribble, pass and shoot. I think I can bring that."

If shooting is strength 1A, passing might be 1B. Among intangibles, competitiveness and toughness are right up there, at least based on all he showed in his team's final four run in Fort Wayne.

At Spiece Fieldhouse, Mathias made a name for himself whereas before he easily would have qualified as "under the radar."

The attention he earned in Fort Wayne was significant.

Now, it'll cool off just as quickly as it heated up.

"It's an exciting feeling right now," Mathias said. "Now I can just focus and get ready to work."