Five-star WR Monshun Sales includes Notre Dame football in top 12

After he helped Indianapolis Lawrence North secure a conference championship for the second straight season, five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales told Blue & Gold on Friday night that he would release his top schools later this month and that Notre Dame would be a part of it. On Thursday, he delivered.

Sales, the No. 1 player in Indiana and No. 3 wide receiver nationally in the 2027 class, included the Irish in his top 12. Rivals national recruiting reporter Hayes Fawcett reported the news. Alabama, Indiana, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas A&M also made the cut.

Sales, who also ranks as the nation’s No. 14 overall player in the class, cut several notable programs from his recruitment. Among the teams omitted from his top 12 were Georgia, Florida State, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Florida and Colorado.

Notre Dame’s standing for the 6-foot-5, 201-pound Sales comes after he unofficially visited campus last Saturday for the USC game. He also saw Michigan the same day, but left the Wolverines early to make it to South Bend.

In providing Blue & Gold with his explanation of why he would go through the hassle of visiting Notre Dame the same day as Michigan, Sales shared the same news he released Thursday.

“I mean, it’s definitely one of my top schools,” Sales told reporters after his team’s 42-7 win over Indianapolis Pike on Friday night. “I just love Notre Dame. That’s that. I just really love Notre Dame.”

Since announcing his scholarship offer from the Irish in early March — just a few days before the program’s annual Pot of Gold Day recruiting event — the No. 2 pass-catcher in the Midwest has been to South Bend three times. He visited for the first time April 12 for the Blue-Gold Game and then returned for the Texas A&M game Sept. 13. The atmosphere the fans provided during his last trip compelled him to return for the USC game.

“It was probably the loudest game I’ve ever been to, really,” he said. “They showed me everything. It was a great experience.”

Before visiting Notre Dame and Michigan last Saturday, Sales also made trips to Indiana, Ohio State, Miami and Texas A&M. While he plans to see some other schools this season, Sales’ focus is on his high school postseason.

Sales has been a huge part of Lawrence North’s success. In nine games, he has posted 35 catches for 782 yards and 9 touchdowns. He has also been a big-time contributor on defense, collecting 51 tackles from the safety position.

Lawrence North’s first playoff game is Oct. 31 in the first round of the Indiana Class 6A high school football playoffs against crosstown rival Lawrence Central (4-5). All eyes will be on Sales on Halloween Night and for the remainder of his recruitment.