Jaden Ivey showcasing elite talent as Boilermakers look toward Final Four run
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (BVM) 鈥� In March 2021, Jaden Ivey seemed poised to become one of the new stars of the NCAA Tournament. A freshman sensation for Purdue, Ivey led the Boilermakers to a surprising fourth-place finish in the Big Ten and a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.聽
Throughout the season, Ivey averaged over 11 points per game, but came on late with 18.2 points per contest across the final six games Purdue played. One of those games was against North Texas in the NCAA Tournament, where the Big Ten All-Freshman team member put up an impressive 26-point performance. However, the Boilermakers were upset by the Mean Green, and the early exit was not something the star guard or his teammates wanted to repeat.
In the 2021-22 season, the Boilermakers and their star have faced high expectations, and Ivey has not disappointed. Averaging 17.6 points and nearly five rebounds, the guard has thoroughly impressed, being held to a single-digit scoring output just twice across 35 games, and making plays that prove he may have a bright future at the next level.
We got ourselves a dunk contest. just hammered down this impressive flush. 馃槺
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork)
First, however, Ivey is focused on leading Purdue to new heights. His incredible talent, future potential, and poise to shine in the big moment may do just that, and it鈥檚 not surprising to see his success considering his family background.
Ivey鈥檚 father is Javin Hunter, a former wide receiver at Notre Dame. Also an All-American basketball player in high school, Hunter was recruited for football by former Fighting Irish receivers coach, Urban Meyer. While he did play basketball in South Bend in his freshman year, it was football that he stuck with, becoming Notre Dame鈥檚 top receiver during the 2001 season.
In 2002, Hunter was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, following in the path of his father, James Hunter, a former defensive back for the Detroit Lions.聽
After scoring two touchdowns in his rookie season, a torn Achilles among other injuries derailed Javin鈥檚 career, as 2006 would be his final year in the NFL.聽
Meanwhile, Ivey鈥檚 mother, Niele, was also a star athlete in her own right. Growing up in St. Louis, Niele was recruited by legendary Notre Dame women鈥檚 basketball coach Muffet McGraw, and played for her for five seasons. Scoring over 1,400 points in her career, Niele became a star for the Fighting Irish, leading her team to two Final Fours and a national championship in 2001.
Her success in South Bend led to a pro career, as Niele was selected 17th overall in the 2001 WNBA Draft. Niele would go on to play five seasons in the league with the Indiana Fever, Detroit Shock and Phoenix Mercury.
After spending a couple of years as an administrative assistant at Xavier following her playing days, Niele returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach under McGraw. There, she helped develop several All-American players such as Skylar Diggins, Jewell Loyd, Lindsay Allen and Arike Ogunbowale.
In 2019, Niele took advantage of an opportunity she could not pass up, becoming an assistant coach in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies. Yet, soon after, another chance to advance her career came about, and again, it was the perfect fit. With McGraw retiring, Niele took over as Notre Dame鈥檚 head coach in 2020.
鈥淚 am so honored to be able to follow in the legacy that Coach McGraw built here at Notre Dame,鈥� . 鈥淢y love and appreciation for Coach McGraw is beyond anything I can express. She鈥檚 more than a mentor, more than a friend, she鈥檚 one of the most influential people in my life. I am full of gratitude for Coach McGraw and what she has done for me. She was the first to give me an opportunity to play for Notre Dame and coach here as well. I will forever be grateful for her love and support. I would also like to thank Jack Swarbrick and Father Jenkins for having the faith to move this program forward with me. I can never thank you enough for this incredible opportunity.鈥�
After a 10-10 campaign in her first year at the helm, Niele has led Notre Dame back towards the top in 2021-22, as the Fighting Irish have gone 24-8, and recently earned victories against UMass and Oklahoma in the NCAA Women鈥檚 Basketball Tournament to reach the Sweet 16.聽
馃拑 饾棪饾棫饾棞饾棢饾棢 饾棗饾棓饾棥饾棖饾棞饾棥饾棜 馃拑
— Notre Dame Women's Basketball (@ndwbb)
鈥淲ell, I honestly don’t have any words,鈥� . 鈥淭his is something I prayed about, something I knew could come to life, and I’m so over the moon. I mean, I’m so proud of this team. I’m so proud of our journey. I’m so proud to see where we’ve come since last season. We worked so hard in the summertime, preseason to get to this point. We’ve had a lot of highs and a lot of lows this season, and it’s just incredible for me to see them blossom, to blossom in front of my eyes 鈥� I’m so proud of them and I’m just excited to continue dancing.鈥�
Niele and her Fighting Irish squad will now take on No. 1 seed NC State on Saturday in hopes of pulling an upset to continue dancing even further.
Coming out of high school, Jaden had his options of which Indiana school he wanted to play for. Spending his first three seasons at Marian and finishing his senior year at La Lumiere averaging over 15 points per game, many probably expected the standout guard to follow in his parents鈥� footsteps at Notre Dame. However, he decided to head south to play with Matt Painter鈥檚 Purdue Boilermakers.聽
Thus far, that has turned out to be a pretty good decision for both Jaden and the Boilermakers. His freshman season was good, but Jaden got even better playing for Team USA in the FIBA U19 World Cup in which he won a gold medal.
This season, the Boilermakers had a lot of expectations coming in. They may not have won the Big Ten conference, but going 29-7 to this point as a top-10 team for the majority of the year, the Boilermakers are one of just two Big Ten teams left standing this March, and one of 16 squads now looking to reach the Final Four 鈥� which would be Purdue鈥檚 first appearance in over four decades 鈥� and just maybe bring home a national championship.
鈥淥bviously, we have the big picture as a national championship,鈥� . 鈥淓veryone has dreams and goals of winning a national championship. But you just have to approach it one game at a time. I’m ready to hoop for real. I don’t like waiting to play games. But I’m ready to hoop, and I’m ready to get going with my team.鈥�
As the No. 3 seed went up against 14-seeded Yale in Milwaukee last Friday, Jaden proved he was the best player on the floor, scoring 22 points.聽
Jaden Ivey starting off HOT from three for the Boilermakers 馃幆
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB)
鈥淚 felt good just going out there,鈥� . 鈥淵ou know, all of our guys, we feel like we all had energy. I feel like we all felt the feeling of losing last year first round, so I felt like all our guys were motivated and so was I.鈥�
More of the same ensued last Sunday against No. 6 Texas, as Jaden scored 18 points while hitting some truly clutch shots down the stretch to vault Purdue to the Sweet 16.
. ICE IN HIS VEINS 鉂勶笍
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB)
Sweet 16 bound!!! Congrats ! What an incredible game and win!! Total team effort!! So Proud of you guys! 馃憦馃従馃憦馃従馃憦馃従馃憦馃従馃枻馃殏
Thanks for the photo
— Niele Ivey (@IrishCoachIvey)
As Jaden continues to play in the tournament, his mom continues to tune in. She may not be as calm watching her son as she is on the sidelines for the Fighting Irish, but it has made for some proud moments recently to see what Jaden is accomplishing.
鈥淚t’s so special,鈥� . 鈥淏ut I was so excited last night. First of all, my stress is as a mom. Today I was relaxed. Last night I was stressed. I was just so happy that he’s living out his dreams, I’m living out my dreams, and to watch him help his team get to the Sweet 16 was just so special for me. It was hard not being there, but he knows that I have a job to do as well. I had a FaceTime with him earlier just before the game, so we’re there for each other in spirit.鈥�
Like his mom, Jaden will be a part of a Sweet 16 matchup later this week when Purdue takes on the Cinderella of this year鈥檚 tournament thus far, Saint Peter鈥檚, who has already knocked off No. 2 seed Kentucky and a 30-win Murray State squad.
鈥淚 would say we have to come out with the same intensity that we had today and just listen to what the coaches say and what we talk about pregame,鈥� . 鈥淚t all comes into play in the game, so we’ve just got to stay focused. And, you know, obviously we’re happy to be in the Sweet 16, but, you know, we’ve got to win the game.鈥�
Whenever the season ends for Purdue, there is a good chance Jaden leaves West Lafayette to become a professional athlete himself as he continues to follow in his parents鈥� footsteps. Certainly on pace to become an NBA lottery pick, there鈥檚 no telling how far Jaden鈥檚 ascension will go.聽
However, for right now, Jaden and Niele will enjoy this special moment they鈥檙e in, as both continue their quest to make more history this March.
鈥淚t’s just a special bond,鈥� Niele said on Monday. 鈥淚t’s a special, unique situation. We’re both living out our dreams. I’m super blessed. I feel blessed to be in this position, and I just feel that God has his favor on both Jaden and I.鈥�
鈥�We’re just super blessed to just be in this position,鈥� Jaden said before the tournament last Thursday. 鈥淚 just think it’s just what God’s done for us to put us in this position. You know, both of us are in March Madness right now. We’re doing what we love to do. It’s just a blessing.鈥�
