Notre Dame lands program’s highest-ranked commit ever

Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry and his staff have landed a big-time pledge in their 2025 class, as five-star prospect Jalen Haralson has verbally committed to the Fighting Irish over other finalists Indiana and Michigan State.

According to numerous media reports, the pledge by the 6-foot-7 Haralson gives Notre Dame its highest-rated commit since recruiting services began ranking high school prospects via the Internet.

Haralson, via his X page, describes himself as a point guard, while recruiting Web sites list him as a small forward. Either way, national analysts and scouts note that Haralson is an athletic and versatile player who can suit up at multiple positions on offense and guard numerous positions on the defensive side.

A consensus top-25 national prospect in the senior class, Haralson is ranked as high as No. 10 overall in the 2025 cycle by ESPN. Throughout his recruiting process, Haralson received more than two dozen scholarship offers, including from college basketball heavyweights such as Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Purdue, Alabama, Virginia, Michigan and Auburn, among many others.

In the upcoming 2024-25 season, Haralson will be a senior at the powerhouse La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., which is a member of the loaded 14-team Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic (“EYBL Scholastic”).

Rob Cassidy, a national analyst with Rivals.com, shared his thoughts on what Notre Dame is getting in Haralson.

“A modern, 6-foot-6 wing that oozes versatility and impacts winning in a number of ways, Haralson is a certified shot-creator for both himself and others and feels comfortable handling the ball. He can also serve as a small-ball four if the situation calls for it. The five-star forward is comfortable initiating offense, pushing the breaks and taking defenders off the bounce, as he’s one of the more reliable in-traffic finishers in the class.”