Irish Sports Daily

Steve Haney is starting to see the benefits of trusting is father.

The recruiting process is starting to pick up 6-foot-6, 180-pound sophomore shooting guard from Lansing Eastern High School in Lansing, Mich., whose father, also named Steve, played Division-I basketball at Loyola-Marymount and San Jose State in the late-80s.

“He knows what it takes to get there,” the younger Haney said. “He won’t let me get a big head and always tells me I’ve got to keep working and that I’ll get what I put in.

“He tells me to try not to listen to outside opinions and that he’s been there and knows what it takes. Even if it sounds like what he tells me to do might be a little off, just go with him and listen. I’ve listened to him and it’s turned out for the best.”

The 2013 prospect transferred to Eastern from East Lansing High School last year and wasn’t eligible to play until the second semester. When he did join his new team, he had to learn his role on a squad led by LaDontae Henton, who signed with Providence.

“I didn’t have the numbers, but I think a big spring has made up for a lot of stuff that I didn’t do during high school,” said Haney, who plays for the same Michigan Mustangs AAU program that features Irish targets Derrick Walton and Josh Kozinski.

“Spring was huge for me. I definitely I started to get a lot attention because of my spring AAU.”

This spring, Haney, who will be entering his junior year this fall, has heard from Notre Dame, Boston College, Tennessee, DePaul, and Memphis among others.

“Those are all some new schools that I’d never heard from before,” said Haney. “It’s kind of surprising, but at the same time, I feel like I’ve earned. It’s cool to see that all of the hard work that I’ve been putting it and all of the stuff my dad would happen is finally starting to happen.”

Notre Dame assistants Anthony Solomon and Martin Inglesby asked Haney’s Michigan Mustangs AAU coach if Haney would be interested in visiting South Bend and playing pickup ball with the Irish this summer. Haney plans on being at Notre Dame later this month. Notre Dame’s strong 2010-11 season made an impression on the youngster.

“I definitely saw this year they had a big season,” he said. “I’ve never really known a whole bunch before. I knew them for their football, but this year I definitely saw them in the media a lot for the basketball season. It caught my eye as a school that is definitely on the up and coming.”

Haney saw highlights of Ben Hansbrough and followed Notre Dame a bit when fellow Michigan native Tory Jackson was running the point for the Irish.

Haney said college coaches are impressed with his size and skill as a two-guard, but continues to develop his game.

“I’ve kind of been labeled as a shooter, but I’ve tried to improve my ball-handling to be labeled more as an overall scorer,” he said.

He’s already thought about what will be important to him when it does come to making a decision.

“I think definitely a coach who says academics are important in their program right away. I also want to be able to play a good schedule and play against the best teams.”