Linebacker Jadyn Donovan, the No. 3 women’s basketball recruit in the 2023 espnW 100, announced Monday her commitment to Duke, not Notre Dame.
“I chose Duke for a number of reasons, most notably Duke academics are second to none and I want to use my degree to take me to as many places as possible , because one day the ball will stop bouncing,” Donovan told ESPN. “It’s also close to home and my family.”
Donovan is the highest rating for the Blue Devils since autonomous coach Kara Lawson took the helm.
“My first two schools were the best options for me,” said Donovan, who also strongly considered North Carolina, Arizona, UCLA and Tennessee State. “[Notre Dame] coach [Niele] Ivey and coach Lawson have both played in the WNBA and have NBA experience. …I want to pursue a degree in communication and journalism, and Coach Lawson has a lot of experience and background in that. I also want to continue to be involved in USA Basketball, and she’s connected to that.”
Donovan has been a top-ranked player since she played at Sidwell Friends School (DC)) . In December 2019, she made her mark at the She Got Game Classic with her speed and bouncing abilities.
Over the years, she’s developed pull-up jumpers and rim finishers, and she’s started to show that she can be a threat to the 3-point line too. Donovan has become an excellent passer who can create chances for her teammates, and she moves well off the ball and is very knowledgeable about when to cut and how to do it with the right reading. .
As a junior, Donovan joined UCLA’s Kiki Rice (2nd in 2022), Khia Miller (82nd in 2023), Kendall Dudley (2024) 4 in 2024) and top 100 recruits like Leah Harmon (35 in 2024), averaging 15.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.3 steals while shooting 58 percent from the field.
The 6-foot Donovan also won her second gold medal this summer for USA Basketball. Following last year’s U16 FIBA Americas gold medal, she helped win the U17 FIBA World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, averaging 10.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals while shooting 60.4 percent from the field.
She is expected to be a lock-up defender the moment she arrives on campus, as well as a playmaker on the open court and can get into the box and knock down tough The jump shot to put pressure on the opposing defense.
Donovan’s commitment to Duke cannot be overstated for Lawson, who took over the program in July 2020. When Donovan arrives on campus as a freshman, she will be welcomed by the No. 11 recruiting class in the 2022 cycle, which includes No. 16 prospects Ashren Jackson and No. 33 Shay Boleyn. Duke also has ACC freshman of the year Shayeann Day-Wilson and Georgia transfer Reigan Richardson, the 2021 McDonald’s All-American.
Donovan’s promise could lead to more hiring momentum. Duke has been added to the roster of several other five-star rookies for the class of 2023, namely point guard Hannah Hidalgo (No. 5) and wing/forward Madison Booker (No. 15), as well as some international talent .
