Notre Dame Loses Key Scorer Jalen Haralson Ahead of Georgia Tech Matchup
SOUTH BEND - For a Notre Dame team already fighting uphill in ACC play, the last thing it needed was another injury to a key contributor. But that’s exactly what the Irish are dealing with as freshman guard Jalen Haralson has been ruled out for Saturday’s home game against Georgia Tech due to a sprained ankle.
Haralson, who’s stepped up as the team’s leading scorer since Markus Burton went down in early December with a broken ankle, initially suffered the injury during Tuesday’s loss to SMU. He aggravated it again during Friday’s practice, and by late that evening, his name appeared on the team’s availability report as questionable. By Saturday, he was officially ruled out.
It’s a tough blow for a young player who’s been one of the few bright spots in a challenging season for the Irish. Notre Dame enters the weekend at 11-14 overall and just 2-10 in ACC play. They’ve dropped five straight and 10 of their last 11 conference games.
Haralson, a 6-foot-7, 222-pound freshman, has started 22 of the team’s 24 games this season and has been a steady presence on both ends of the floor. This will be just the second game he’s missed all year. The first came early in the season against Detroit Mercy, when he was in concussion protocol after taking a hit to the head in the second half of the opener against LIU Brooklyn.
With Haralson sidelined, junior guard Logan Imes is expected to slide into the starting lineup. Fellow guard Cole Certa, who was listed as probable on the availability report, is also expected to start.
The injury report continues to be a tough read for Notre Dame fans. Freshman center Tommy Ahneman and senior forward Keba Njie are both out for the season with knee injuries. Burton, the dynamic freshman guard who was having a breakout year before his injury, remains sidelined with no clear timeline for return.
Haralson’s absence is especially painful considering how well he’s adapted to the lead guard role in Burton’s absence. On the season, he’s averaging 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 26.6 minutes per game. He’s shooting an efficient 50.9% from the field, though his outside shooting (.208 from three) and free throw percentage (.641) have room for improvement.
In ACC play, Haralson has taken his game up another notch, averaging a team-best 16.3 points along with 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 29.1 minutes per contest. His shooting has also improved in conference action, hitting 52.9% from the field and 31.3% from beyond the arc.
His most recent performance - 23 points in 30 minutes during the loss at SMU - was yet another example of his ability to carry the scoring load. That came just two weeks after he poured in a career-high 26 points in a road game at Syracuse.
With six games left in the regular season, Notre Dame is running out of time to turn things around. If the season ended today, the Irish wouldn’t qualify for the 15-team ACC Tournament.
After Saturday’s matchup with Georgia Tech, the team will get a six-day break before traveling to face Pittsburgh on Feb. 21.
The hope now is that Haralson’s ankle responds well to treatment and rest. Because if Notre Dame has any shot at salvaging something from this season, they’ll need their freshman playmaker back on the floor - and back to doing what he’s done best: keeping the Irish competitive in a year where not much else has gone according to plan.