Notre Dame Loses Star Guard to Transfer Portal

Jalen Haralson, the highest-ranked recruit in program history, will leave the Fighting Irish.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:38pm

Notre Dame men's basketball has suffered another major blow, as star guard Jalen Haralson has decided to enter the transfer portal. Haralson, who averaged 16.2 points, 4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game as a freshman, was the highest-ranked signee to ever join the program. His departure comes after a difficult season for the Fighting Irish, who dealt with injuries, losses, and controversies surrounding head coach Micah Shrewsberry.

Why it matters

Haralson's decision to transfer is a significant setback for Notre Dame, which was hoping he would be a cornerstone of the program moving forward. As the team's leading scorer and one of its most talented players, his exit will leave a major void that will be challenging to fill.

The details

Haralson made an immediate impact as a freshman, scoring 17 points in his second game and averaging over 20 points per game over his final four contests. However, the overall struggles of the team, including injuries and off-court issues, appear to have factored into his decision to leave South Bend.

  • Haralson announced his decision to enter the transfer portal on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

The players

Jalen Haralson

A star freshman guard who was the highest-ranked recruit to ever join the Notre Dame basketball program.

Micah Shrewsberry

The head coach of the Notre Dame men's basketball team, who has faced controversies and a difficult season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is a huge blow to the program, after his freshman season which he averaged 16.2 points-per-game with 4 rebounds and 2.6 assists.”

— Sunny Verma, Author

What’s next

Notre Dame will now need to find a way to replace Haralson's production and leadership, as the team looks to bounce back from a difficult season.

The takeaway

Haralson's decision to transfer is a significant setback for Notre Dame, as the team loses its top scorer and one of its most talented players. The program will need to regroup and find a way to overcome this loss if it hopes to improve upon its struggles from the previous season.