Connections Helping Irish With DeMatha Stars
DeMatha Catholic head basketball coach Mike Jones believes 2019 guard Justin Moore and 2020 center Hunter Dickinson would be fortunate to go to Notre Dame and that the Irish would fortunate to land either or both of his star players.
“First of all, I think Notre Dame would fit any player just because of the way they play and Coach (Mike) Brey being such a great coach,” Jones said following his team’s victory at the Spalding HoopHall Classic in Springfield, Mass., last weekend.
“But I also think those two are two players who would fit any program too. They don’t necessarily have a specific style they would thrive in because they’re such high-basketball IQ guys that they could fit in any style.”
The Irish have offered the 6-foot-4 Moore and the 7-foot-1 Dickinson and have remained aggressive in their recruitments of the underclassmen.
“They’re doing a great job,” Jones said. “They contact us when they’re able to, they make it to practice and games. I think they’re going to do a great job staying relevant with these guys as they go through the process.”
Jones mentioned how impressed he was with Moore in coming back from a torn ACL last year.
“He’s just good,” the coach said of Moore. “He shoots the ball really well, he’s strong. He’s got a great basketball IQ. To me, the most impressive thing is that this is a kid who a year and a week ago tore his ACL. This is the first game he played without his brace on.
“I think it’s just a confidence thing with him. You don’t have that big, bulky thing you’re dragging around. He was playing great with it, don’t get me wrong. But the fact that he doesn’t have it on anymore, I think gives him a little bit more athleticism, explosion and quickness.”
Jones added, “He’s just got a bright future. I’m glad he’s with us. He’s an offensive problem for the other team.”
The coach also pointed to the work ethic of Dickinson, Moore and his entire team.
“They put the time in the gym,” he said. “There’s no substitution for that. Hunter has worked really hard. Justin has worked really hard. The guys on our team have committed themselves to become better players, getting in better shape. They’re growing. As they get stronger, their bodies are also growing too. It’s a natural progression. They have plenty of examples who have come before them as to how it should go and they’re doing a great job.”
Jones also noted the presence of former DeMatha star DJ Harvey in South Bend could help Notre Dame’s pursuit of Moore and Dickinson in addition to the strong ties from the staff back to DeMatha.
“Obviously, the injury bug kind of boosted his minutes a little bit,” Jones said of Harvey, who was moved into the starting lineup for the Irish earlier this month before going down with an injury of his own.
“We pride ourselves on our guys leaving DeMatha and, whatever they go to, being able to play right away. DJ definitely had his growing pains, but the fact is he’s ready to play and ready to contribute. We’re just very proud of him and we didn’t expect anything different.”