D.J. Harvey commits to Notre Dame

Notre Dame got its gotta-get guard.

Four-star prospect D.J. Harvey officially became the first member of coach Mike Brey’s 2017 recruiting class late Tuesday when he committed during Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic’s SportsTalk Live program, which started just after 10 p.m. eastern time.

Harvey will finalize his national letter of intent during November’s early signing period. Brey is prohibited under NCAA recruiting regulations from commenting on Harvey until that time.

Brey knows well of Harvey, who attends the same high school – DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Md. – as did Brey, who also taught history and later coached with prep legend Morgan Wootten.

“He’s been there from the start with me,” Harvey told the Tribune earlier this month about Brey.

The DeMatha-Notre Dame connection runs deep. Harvey is one of only two players in the program’s long and storied history to start their first varsity game as a true freshman. The other? Notre Dame ring of honor member and Basketball Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley.

Harvey is ranked No. 43 by Scout.com, No. 47 by ESPN.com and No. 51 by Rivals.com. He is the highest-ranked prospect to commit to Notre Dame since former point guard Demetrius Jackson. The eventual McDonald’s All-American and current Boston Celtics rookie was ranked No. 24 nationally by ESPN.com, 29th by Scout and 38th by Rivals.

The 6-foot-6, 205-pound Harvey is the second DeMatha player to commit to Brey during his Notre Dame tenure. He follows former Irish All-American Jerian Grant, now in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls.

Harvey visited with Grant during his official visit to Notre Dame the weekend of Sept. 10. He spent last weekend at Alabama. But it was a Monday home visit – attended by Brey and his coaching staff – that likely convinced Harvey to end his recruitment.

Late Monday, Harvey posted on his Twitter account that it had been a “great day.” The day effectively ended with a commitment to Notre Dame.

Harvey had official visits still scheduled this fall to Connecticut and to Texas.

Harvey averaged 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists as a junior.

“I feel like I’m one of the hardest workers in the country and it just goes to show that the hard work has paid off,” Harvey said earlier this month. “It’s a humbling experience to be regarded as such a talent.”

Notre Dame has two scholarships still to offer current high school seniors. With senior captains V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia entering their final seasons, wings have been the top priority for Brey. If Harvey wants to start as a freshman, a possible starting spot in South Bend beckons.

“He can be a really good college basketball player,” DeMatha coach Mike Jones said of Harvey.

Whether with freshman point guard T.J. Gibbs last fall, sophomore swingman Matt Ryan two years ago or Jackson four recruiting cycles ago, Brey typically has closed on his top recruiting target. Harvey was this year's gotta-get guy. And another guard from the BMV (Baltimore-Maryland-Virginia) may be next.

With Harvey in the fold, Brey turns attention to guard Darryl Morsell from Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore. Morsell (6-4, 200) made his official visit to Notre Dame last weekend. He is scheduled to see Villanova this weekend.

Morsell attends the same high school as former Irish guard and current video coordinator Eric Atkins, the only three-time team captain in Notre Dame history.

After Brey signed Atkins and Grant in the 2010 recruiting class, he often referred to the pair as his Baltimore-Washington Parkway guards.

Harvey and Morsell would make a solid second pairing of that B-WP combination.

One down. One to go.