The most important, most frantic portion of the college basketball recruiting season tips off today, as the NCAA's early July evaluation period begins.

Between today and July 15 - the final day of this month's early period - Purdue's focus will almost certainly be on a handful of regional tournaments.

Tipping off today are the Hoosier Shootout and adidas It Takes 5ive in Indianapolis and Cincinnati, respectively, as well as the NY2LA Next Level Invitational in Milwaukee.

Purdue will likely have coaches in all three cities - the Boilermakers' three assistant coaches will be on the road as Coach Matt Painter's in Serbia with USA Basketball - observing their committed players and top remaining targets.

In Indianapolis, 2010 commitment Donnie Hale will be playing for his Spiece Indy Heat team, which normally features fellow pledge Travis Carroll.

Carroll, though, is in Akron at the prestigious Lebron James Skills Academy, which comes on the heels of Carroll's trip to Phoenix, where he attended the Amare Stoudemire Skills Academy.

Carroll will return to his Indy Heat team in time for the Kentucky HoopFest in Louisville later in the week.

Purdue's coaches will watch Hale in Indy, as well as some of their top 2012 targets. Commitment Rapheal Davis will be with his Indy Heat 15-and-under team, for whom he's teammates with Purdue target DeJuan Marrero.

Spiece Indy Stars' 15-year-old team, meanwhile, features top prospects like Ron Patterson, Austin Burgett and Jeremy Hollowell.

In Cincinnati, Purdue will keep a close eye on 2010 commitment Terone Johnson and Indiana Elite prospects such as Justin Gant, Nic Moore, Jeremiah Davis, Cody Zeller and Marshall Plumlee, among others.

Boilermaker 2010 commitment Anthony Johnson's Illinois Warriors will be in Cincinnati, but Johnson is not expected to play because of his on-going bout with ankle problems.

Purdue's reason for trekking to Milwaukee is SYF Players' 16-and-under team, which includes two of its top 2011 targets in Branden Dawson and Mitch McGary.

Several of the Spiece teams will be in action in Louisville at the Kentucky HoopFest beginning Thursday.

The Best of the Midwest tournament tips off in Fishers a week from today. The Spiece teams all should be there.

Throughout the week to come, GoldandBlack.com will have on-site coverage from Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville, along with video of Boilermaker commitments and targets in action.