2023 Forward JP Estrella Honored By Notre Dame Offer
JP Estrella certainly saw his stock rise last weekend as the 2023 power forward from Maine and his Middlesex Magic AAU squad had impressive showings in Indianapolis during the Under Armour Association’s first session.
Over the weekend alone, the 6-foot-11, 210-pounder saw his scholarship count balloon as he added offers from Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Wake Forest, Maryland, Cal and Xavier.
Those to go with offers he already had from schools like Boston College, Iowa, Marquette, Penn State, Providence, Syracuse, Tennessee and Harvard among others.
Middlesex Magic head coach Mike Crotty has strong relationships with the Notre Dame staff, having sent several players to South Bend over the years, including Pat Connaughton, Cormac Ryan and incoming freshman Dom Campbell.
Crotty was the one who informed Estrella that Mike Brey’s staff was offering.
“It was kind of crazy,” Estrella said. “I didn't really expect that to happen. My good buddy Dom's going there. I gave him a FaceTime call in the parking lot. He was pretty hype about it. It was a really good experience that I could experience with a couple of Middlesex guys, which was really nice.
“It's a pretty big school; big football school, big basketball school. You've got to be excited about every one. There's always excitement in the air when a new one comes in. But I was just really honored to get that one from such a great staff.”
Crotty and Campbell had very positive things to say about Notre Dame.
“Coach Crotty just said it's a great program, they have great basketball, a great coaching staff, an awesome coaching staff,” said Estrella.
“Dom just absolutely loved it there when he went. He can't wait. I can't wait to see him on the big TV next year, hooping for them. He really likes it there, which is awesome to hear.
Estrella plans to start building relationships with the coaches in South Bend and will try to find a time to get out for a visit. He’s already taken unofficials to schools like Providence, Tennessee, Harvard, Syracuse and BC.
He’s in the process of trying to map out which schools he wants to get to on officials.
College coaches see Estrella as a stretch-4 with the ability to play other positions.
“Some of them want me in the 3, some the 5,” he said. “Right now, it's all over the place between the 3 and 5. I think I'll probably end up being around the stretch-4 position.
“They really love my versatility and they love my defensive efforts and how big I am and my rim protection, high IQ. Another big one is being so mobile as a big. I really am athletic and mobile for such a big guy. That's a thing that I think college coaches really love.”
Estrella knows what he’s looking for in a school.
“The biggest thing for me is the culture piece. That's a really big deal for me. Having it not just be a basketball team and classroom in college, just like a family that has my back, that I can talk to on my good days and my bad days, just to have my back and that I can make lifetime memories with.”
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