By SAM LANCE
FISHERS, IN — Top-65 class of 2026 prospect MJ Madison had a year to remember playing with Long Island Lutheran this past high school season.
Madison — the 6-foot-9, 215-pound four-star forward originally from Atlanta — moved away from home to suit up for the Crusaders. It was hard to be away from his family, but he was welcomed by a different one this winter.
“Everybody was just so welcoming to me and I really like that,” Madison told ZAGSBLOG. “If I’m in a space that I feel welcome, I can develop. And as you can see, I can easily develop here. So just the warm welcome as family, that’s the main thing I’ll remember. Coach [John] Buck always focusing on passion and us playing with passion too. It’s a level of intensity and culture I’ll never forget.”
Above all else, Madison learned this past season with LuHi the value of playing for something greater than yourself.
“You have to play for what’s on the front of your chest, and then the back of your chest will succeed,” Madison said. “If you’re playing for LuHi, playing hard for LuHi, doing everything you can for LuHi, then your name, your last name is the one that hits the ceiling.”
In his one game at Chipotle Nationals, Madison was highly productive. He finished with nine points, three rebounds and one steal while shooting 3-of-5 from the field and 1-of-2 from 3-point range. Madison will be playing on the Nike EYBL circuit with City Rocks this summer.
“I’m a dog,” Madison said of his game. “I finish around the rim. I’m always trying to rebound, always communicating and being active no matter what. I’m always lifting up my teammates. A leader. I try to be a leader wherever I’m at, no matter if I’m the youngest or the oldest. I’m trying to be a leader no matter what. And also being able to shoot a little bit, being able to hit the top of the key three or whatever three is needed. Or maybe hit a mid-range. But basically whatever is needed out of me I’m able to do.”
Madison has been offered by a handful of schools including Charleston, Georgia, Kennesaw State, Penn State, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. Other programs in contact include Alabama, Auburn, Syracuse and Seton Hall. Georgia, Penn State, Seton Hall and Syracuse were all in to see Madison during the high school season.
Here’s the forward’s breakdown of some of the schools recruiting him:
Syracuse: “I’ve been talking to their recruiter, coach Alex Kline. Really good guy. He’s shown a lot of interest in me and I’m always receptive to him and listening to him. That’s my guy. I try to talk to him as much as I can and try to stay in contact with him.”
Georgia: “I’ve been staying in touch with coach Mike White, coach [Antonio Reynolds] Dean. They’re always in contact with me. Hometown of course. So just constantly talking with them. I’ll probably take an official visit there in the fall.”
Penn State: “Coach [Mike] Rhoades and some of the other assistant coaches have reached out. Once again, constant communication. Always checking up, always calling. I’ll maybe ask some questions and see what I could’ve done better in game. He’s always receptive to me and I’m receptive to him. Good relationship between me and him.”
Seton Hall: “Good relationship with them. I haven’t really discussed any visits with them, but I’ll definitely be considering that.”
Virginia Tech: “Coach [Chester] Frazier, he’s trying to get me down there next fall.”
Madison said he’ll be taking mostly all of his visits after the AAU season this coming fall. The forward is ranked the No. 63 overall prospect in the 2026 class by 247Sports.
“He’s young,” LuHi head coach John Buck told ZAGSBLOG. “He’s really just starting to blossom and starting to understand staying present in the moment. Just thinking positive. He had some great games for us.”
An interesting fact about Madison is that he can play the acoustic guitar. One of the songs he knows is “I Want You Back,” by The Jackson 5.
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