By CHARLIE PARENT
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Jalan Haralson, a five-star junior out of Midwest powerhouse La Lumiere (IN.), started getting back into form at last weekend’s HoopHall Classic after missing six seeks with an ankle injury.
The 6-foot-7 small forward showed his high upside in limited action, guarding multiple positions on the floor and getting offensive work on the perimeter.
“I feel like I’m a bigger wing that can facilitate and score at a high level,” Haralson told ZAGSBLOG postgame. “I can make plays for teammates and I feel like I’m one of the most versatile guys in the country.”
“He’s getting his strength back, getting his confidence back, he’s he’s rounding into form,” head coach Pat Holmes added. “He had to shake off six weeks of rust. Guys like him, just want to get back on the court as soon as possible. I’m proud of the way he played for a guy who hasn’t seen action since Dec. 1.”
Haralson eclipsed 20 points several times in October and November pre-injury.
The Indiana native has taken visits to the in-state Hoosiers and Purdue while also seeing Auburn, Ohio State, and Michigan State.
“That’s [Indiana] a big-time school. Big-time atmosphere, that was the first to offer me a scholarship. It was Coach [Mike] Woodson‘s first offer in office and so for him to have the trust in me to offer me as a 14-year-old is big. I look at stuff like that.”
“As a kid, everyone dreams of playing for Indiana,” he concluded. “But obviously, I have a lot of big-time programs coming after me so it’s going to be a pretty tough decision.”
While Haralson has unofficially seen Indiana four times and Purdue twice, it was Auburn where he took his lone official visit.
“It was great,” he said. “Coach Bruce Pearl is an energy guy, and I didn’t really know that about him, but on the visit, I was like, ‘this guy’s intense.’ He critiqued me, we watched a lot of film. I feel like if I go there I’ll get better.”
Haralson will take more visits once the La Lumiere season comes to a close. He remains unsure about a commitment timeframe at this time but seems to still be narrowing down his options.
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