Notre Dame men’s basketball landed one of the highest-rated commitments in the history of the program on Wednesday when five-star small forward Jalen Haralson chose the Irish over Michigan State and Indiana.
The 6-foot-7, 210-pound standout at the LaLumiere School in La Porte, Ind., not only becomes the face of Micah Shrewsberry’s recruiting class, but upon arrival at Notre Dame next year, he could also be the face of the program alongside Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry, with both potentially entering their junior seasons.
For Notre Dame to land a prospect ranked among the nation’s top 20 is a coup for Shrewsberry, coming off a difficult debut season in South Bend that ended at 13-20 overall and 7-13 in the ACC. Haralson ranks as the top player in Indiana and the No. 13 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite. The Irish have one other commitment in the 2025 class in four-star forward Brady Koehler of Indianapolis (Cathedral).
Haralson is originally from Fishers, Ind., just outside Indianapolis. That’s also the home turf of Shrewsberry, who played Division III basketball at Hanover and is a high school graduate of Cathedral.
“When I went on my visit, I just connected with the coaching staff, the players,” Haralson said during his announcement Wednesday. “I trust coach Shrews with my game.”
This was all part of the formula used by former athletic director Jack Swarbrick in hiring Shrewsberry away from Penn State a year ago, banking on the coach’s Hoosier State connections combined with his NBA experience with the Boston Celtics under Brad Stevens, whose son is now a walk-on with the Irish.
Notre Dame may still be in rebuilding mode as Shrewsberry continues to reshape the program following Mike Brey’s departure. But in landing Haralson’s commitment, he’s taken the biggest step yet in moving Notre Dame forward.
“I want to change the outlook on the program,” Haralson said. “I want to come in, win, change the culture, do my thing. We’re gonna have a lot of fun.”
(Photo: Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)
