Blue and Gold Illustrated

BASKETBALL RECRUITING — Notre Dame, IUPUI, Indiana, Pur‑ due, Xavier, Vanderbilt, Illinois, But‑ ler, Michigan State and Georgetown. In addition to the various activities, Jackson Jr. said another big part of the trip was spending time with the Irish players. Notre Dame returns three starters from last year 's Elite Eight team, including junior point guard Demetrius Jackson, junior shooting guard Steve Vasturia and senior for‑ ward Zach Auguste. Jackson Jr. said he formed a particularly nice bond with freshman forward Elijah Burns, who gave him a tour of some of Notre Dame's facilities. "I hung out with the players at the game. I wanted to interact with them and see how they like the team," Jack‑ son Jr. said. "They really like Coach Brey and they really like Notre Dame. I jelled really well with them. It was cool to hang out with them and see what they're like outside of basketball. "I jelled with Elijah really well. I talked with him most of the time. He told me he loved Notre Dame, and he was a really funny dude." At this early stage of his recruit‑ ment, Jackson Jr. doesn't have a time‑ line set for a decision. He does know, however, what he's looking for in a school. "I want a school that's academically and athletically strong," he said. "And also when it's time to decide if you're going to play at that school you don't want to come into a situation where you're playing behind three or four guys. "Then if the coach is good, if they have a winning attitude and the coach motivates their players to play great every day." Jackson Jr. averaged 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as a sophomore for Park Tudor, helping the team to a 26‑2 record and Indiana's Class AA state championship. He con‑ tributed 11 points and nine rebounds in a 73‑46 victory over Frankton High in the championship game. ✦ NOTES FROM THE RECRUITING TRAIL • Austin (Texas) St. Stephen's Episcopal senior center Jarrett Allen cut his list to eight schools — Notre Dame, Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Indiana, Texas, Houston and Kansas State in no particular order. The 6‑10, 215‑pound center, who is ranked as a five‑star recruit and the No. 20 overall player nationally by Rivals, has yet to schedule any official visits. • Charlottesville (Va.) St. Anne's‑Belfield senior forward Javin DeLaurier has accelerated his recruit‑ ment with Duke — which reflects negatively on the Irish's chances to land the top target. The 6‑8, 215‑pound forward, who is listed as a four‑star prospect and the No. 41 overall player nationally by Rivals, was going to visit Duke in late October — but moved his official visit to up to the weekend of Sept. 25‑27, per Duke's request. • Wynnewood (Pa.) Friends Central School senior forward DeAndre Hunter committed to Virginia during his official visit there over the weekend of Sept. 11‑13. The Irish had offered him a scholarship and did an in‑home visit with him during the fall recruiting period. Hunter, a 6‑7, 195‑pound forward, is rated as a four‑star talent and the No. 66 overall recruit in the land by Rivals. — Jordan Wells

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