Weekend Visitation: Notre Dame needs to make impression

This week saw a major flurry of high-major commitments, with nine top-100 prospects making their decisions while several other four-star and three-star players made pledges. As a result, some of the expected official visits this weekend were canceled. But that doesn't mean it's going to be a quiet weekend in the recruiting world.

Notre Dame looks to close the deal

It's been no secret that Demetrius Jackson has been the primary target for Notre Dame the past few months, with the Fighting Irish chasing him around all summer. Jackson will take his official visit to South Bend this weekend for the Notre Dame-Michigan football game while Fighting Irish commits V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia will also be in attendance. Notre Dame's campus is minutes from Jackson's house, and the Fighting Irish could have the edge on Illinois and Kansas in this one.

Rathan-Mayes begins to wind down his recruitment

Xavier Rathan-Mayes, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Huntington Prep (W.Va.), is down to three schools: Illinois, Connecticut and Florida State. The No. 27-ranked prospect will visit Illinois this weekend and has a visit planned to Connecticut next weekend. After picking up a commitment from Chicago guard Kendrick Nunn last week, Illini coach John Groce has some recruiting momentum in Champaign. Rathan-Mayes is looking to decide next month.

Gordon starts official visit tour

Aaron Gordon, one of the top five prospects in the class of 2013, will begin to take his official visits this weekend. Oregon is first up for Gordon, where he will trip with AAU teammates Tyrell and Tyree Robinson. The Ducks are seen as a step behind Washington and Arizona in Gordon's recruitment, but they get first crack at the star forward. Washington will host Gordon next weekend.

It's almost decision time for Mickey

We broke down Jordan Mickey's recruitment late Thursday night, but he still has an official visit to Oklahoma State on his agenda. Arkansas is now off the list, leaving the Cowboys, Ohio State, LSU and SMU. SMU was the only one of the four schools not to conduct an in-home visit with Mickey. He wants to make his decision before the end of the month, meaning the pressure is on Travis Ford to make an impression.

Does the DC Assault–Rutgers connection continue?

Rutgers has done a great job recruiting players from the DC Assault program since the Scarlet Knights hired David Cox, a former coach within the Assault AAU organization. Wally Judge, Jerome Seagears and Malick Kone are currently on the roster, but Mike Rice and staff are hoping to make an impression on another one this weekend with Roddy Peters. Maryland is thought to be the leader in this one, but Kansas just joined the recruitment. Xavier, Georgetown and UCLA are also involved in this one.

Notes:

- Things have been quiet on the recruiting front for Rysheed Jordan, but SNY.tv reported this week that he would visit St. John's this weekend. If the visit happens, it would be a nice step for Steve Lavin and staff. Maryland and UCLA are also involved.

- A couple of top-10 2014 prospects are making trips this weekend. Dakari Johnson is expected to take an unofficial visit to Florida and Cliff Alexander is off to Michigan State. Both programs have made good progress in their recruitment of the two studs.

- Other 2013 top-100 visitors: Jarquez Smith (Georgia), Kyle Washington (NC State)