Five-Star Guard Jalen Haralson Chooses Notre Dame Basketball Over Indiana and Michigan State

Last week committed to the Notre Dame basketball team five-star guard Jalen Haralson, who refused offers from Indiana and Michigan State. Ironically, these three programs could not be any more different. That has seen one of the teams post a losing record in three of the previous four campaigns.

Read Also: 2024 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest: Schedule, Participants

Another is headed by a coach who was inducted in the basketball hall of fame eight years ago. And the third, Indiana, opened its campus to Haralson countless of times the school is right in his backyard, has five national championships hanging from the rafters, and the staff has a former NBA coach.

Family Decision of Haralson

Still, to his close friends and family he had been confirming the news in secret for the past few days, the moment that made him completely sure of his choice and say it out loud was when Haralson declared the word “Notre Dame”. He knew he would soon start receiving calls from people congratulating him as soon as the announcement is made.

In these groups were text from Gary Harris, a 10-year NBA veteran who played under Tom Izzo at Michigan State University and Trayce Jackson-Davis, a former Indiana Hoosiers and current Golden State Warriors player.

In his message Harris and Jackson-Davis addressed the same topic, one that was not about the school Haralson selected, but about the coach that he will be competing against Micah Shrewsberry.

“Gary texted me, ‘Man, you picked the right coach to play for,’” Haralson shared. “TJD, he’s an IU guy, told me Coach Shrews is gonna get me to where I want to go. That’s how much respect he has. Hearing that reassured me I’m in the right spot.”

Why Micah Shrewsberry Was Key

Measuring 6ft 7in, 210lbs, in the 2025 recruitment cycle, Haralson is one of the most talented prospects for team coaches to sign. It is wondrous to the House how he is undisturbed by decisions that are not indeed approved of. Whether it was his choosing to transfer from the Anderson, Indiana where he played for Fishers High School or to join the La Lumiere School in his junior year, he is unapologetic.

However, Notre Dame had to offer him a reason to make this move that would make him the highest-rated player to join the program. That’s where Shrewsberry comes in. Thanks to his experience, Notre Dame basketball now boasts the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, according to Rivals and 247Sports, and fourth-ranked by On 3, behind Kentucky, Arkansas, and Houston. Along with Haralson, Notre Dame has secured commitments from four-star prospects Tommy Ahneman (center), Brady Koehler (forward), and Ryder Frost (guard).

Notre Dame wouldn’t have attracted a talent like Haralson without a coach like Shrewsberry, who has deep connections in the NBA. For Haralson, it wasn’t about the location or the school itself it was all about the coach.

“I trust Coach Shrews. It really wasn’t much about Notre Dame. I don’t know much about Notre Dame,” Haralson admitted. “I’ll go to any school if it gets me where I want to go. I don’t care what people think.”

A Coach with NBA Credibility

During his time as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics (2013–2019), Shrewsberry worked with NBA stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. When the Celtics won the NBA title last summer, Shrewsberry was in the locker room to celebrate with the team. This NBA background gave Shrewsberry the credibility that resonated with Haralson.

Notre Dame’s coach used his knowledge to challenge Haralson’s game, offering tough critiques rather than sugarcoating his potential. While other coaches focused on the positive aspects of Haralson’s game, Shrewsberry provided honest feedback, telling Haralson what areas needed improvement.

“He didn’t sugarcoat it with me,” Haralson said. “He told me my game is pretty good right now, but there’s a lot I need to work on. It was funny because every other coach showed me positive film, but with Notre Dame, it was mostly what I needed to improve.”

A Bright Future for Notre Dame Basketball

If everything goes according to plan, Haralson will enroll at Notre Dame next year alongside a top-10 recruiting class. He will join a roster that includes juniors Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry, as well as top-100 prospect Sir Mohammed, among others.

On the night Haralson committed, he made sure to call Notre Dame, Michigan State, and Indiana about 30 minutes before his public announcement. Throughout his recruitment, Haralson remained in control, and he wanted to finish strong. When he informed Shrewsberry of his decision, the coach’s excitement was clear.

Shrewsberry screamed into the phone and told Haralson he’d be right over at La Lumiere for a celebratory visit.

Thirty-five minutes later, Shrewsberry was at the school, sharing a heartfelt bro hug with the biggest recruit of his coaching career. Haralson made his basketball decision, committing to a program where the basketball is still a work in progress. But that’s exactly why Shrewsberry is at Notre Dame and soon, Haralson will be, too.

“I believe in him as a coach. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between playing style and high-intensity exercise capacity in professional tennis players and to ascertain if Fitz-Gerald’s preferred form of playing entitled: ‘I believe in his playing style’. And I believe in the ACC,” Haralson said.

Well Notre Dame basketball isn’t the sexiest team out there but for me personally I could not care what anyone says. Execution of an unpopular but right decision has happened in other states and I’m certain this decision is right too. It’s my life, and that is why the one who works towards those dreams every day needs to be me. I went with intuition and, indeed, that was an intuition I was basing my decision on.”