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Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer
Notre Dame made a statement on the recruiting trail Wednesday, beating out Indiana and Michigan State for the 2025 class’s No. 10 prospect, Jalen Haralson, the best boys’ high school player in the state of Indiana.
Micah Shrewsberry has recruited effectively since taking over in South Bend after the 2022-23 season, landing four ESPN 100 prospects in the past 18 months. Wednesday was different. Haralson was a national recruit, with offers from the likes of Duke, Kansas, Auburn, Missouri and others. The 6-foot-7 small forward was a priority for Indiana whom Mike Woodson and his staff spent plenty of time trying to woo to Bloomington. Michigan State was involved, Purdue was involved.
And Notre Dame — which last won an NCAA tournament game in 2016 — beat them all out.
Haralson is the Fighting Irish’s highest-ranked commitment since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007.
Let’s take a deeper look at the impact of Haralson’s commitment, for Notre Dame as well as the finalists who missed out.
What Haralson’s commitment means for Notre Dame
This is a monumental commitment for Shrewsberry and his staff — and it could be part of a tenure-shaping week for the second-year head coach.
On Monday, ESPN 100 prospect Brady Koehler announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish. On Wednesday, it was Haralson. On Friday, ESPN 100 wing Ryder Frost is expected to announce his commitment, with Notre Dame a front-runner heading down the stretch.
Three top-100 commitments in one week, including the program’s highest-ranked recruit of all time? Not a bad way to generate momentum.
What Haralson brings as a player
He’ll make an impact from day one, at both ends of the floor. And he’ll be another building block for a roster that could be hitting its stride by the time he arrives on campus.
The Irish’s top three scorers from last season will all have at least one more year of eligibility after the 2024-25 campaign, led by sophomore point guard Markus Burton, who is emerging as one of the best playmakers in the country. Current ESPN 100 freshmen Nasir Mohammed and Cole Certa will also have had one year of experience under their belts.
Recruiting director Paul Biancardi says: Haralson can do a little bit of everything well. He’s active on the glass and a fast-break threat with good decision-making ability. In the half court, he drives and finishes or understands to pull up in space against a set defense. He’s one of the best at posting up and playmaking from the low- or mid-post. To keep a defense honest, he will sprinkle in a 3-pointer. With USA Basketball at the FIBA World Cup last summer, he demonstrated the ability to fit in and function with elite players — and, when needed, still be a main contributor.
What’s next for Indiana recruiting
Put simply, this one hurts for Mike Woodson and Indiana. The Hoosiers were on Haralson very, very early in his recruitment, one of the first schools to extend a scholarship offer. Haralson’s older brother attended Indiana. He grew up just over an hour outside Bloomington, in Fishers. He was also a clear priority in the 2025 class, with the Hoosiers hosting him for an official visit toward the end of the summer and visiting him in the first hours of the fall recruiting period.
Haralson’s decision to go elsewhere is softened somewhat by the fact Indiana landed ESPN 100 forward Trent Sisley — another in-state prospect — earlier in the week. It also heightens the need for Woodson to land top-25 recruit Braylon Mullins. The second-best prospect in the state of Indiana, Mullins is down to UConn, Indiana and North Carolina after visiting all three in September. Mullins was on Indiana’s campus last weekend, along with another top target, top-25 center Eric Reibe.
For options on the wings, the Hoosiers are now aiming for Nate Ament — whose recruitment is moving along incredibly slowly. They’ve also been involved with Bryson Tiller, whose recruitment has been difficult to gauge.
But entering a season in which Woodson is squarely under pressure, losing the top player in the state to an in-state rival only raises the stakes.
What’s next for Michigan State recruiting
MSU wasn’t considered one of the two favorites for Haralson, so Wednesday’s decision would not have been much of a surprise. The Spartans are still heavily in the mix for a number of highly touted recruits, with top-20 guard Darius Adams set to announce his decision next week. (Though there, UConn is perceived to be the leader.)
Michigan State has already hosted top-25 recruits Dwayne Aristode and Niko Bundalo, and is expected to welcome five-star Trey McKenney and four-stars Davion Hannah, Cam Ward and Jordan Scott in the coming weeks.