Michigan Basketball: Jordan Poole Lifts La Lumiere To A National Title

Michigan’s incoming freshman basketball class will feature a national champion. Jordan Poole’s two big triples in the second half sparked La Porte (Ind.) La Lumiere to a 70-52 victory over Montverde Academy and the Dick’s High School Boy’s National Championship.

Poole helped make La Lumiere make a run from six down in the first half, cutting the deficit to two in the first half with a 25-foot triple from the left side. He was 1-of-4 from deep in the stanza, but all of them were in and out and all from 25 to 28 feet. He also drove coast to coast through traffic but had his finish rim out, followed up by a teammate.

Poole was good on the defensive end, notching two steals and a blocked shot in playing about 12 minutes of the half.

Poole checked in with 2:30 to go in the third quarter and La Lumiere up four. His long triple at the buzzer made it 47-38 and sent the Lakers fans into a frenzy … his only shot of the quarter. He also added an assist to MSU-bound big man Jaren Jackson in transition.

Poole made it 50-38 at 7:45 of the fourth on a set play, yet another triple several feet behind the line. He hauled in a big rebound at 3:20 with La Lu up 11, and then notched a steal on the other end and a save before the ball went out of bounds.

“Poole showing that he is more than just a shooter,” announcers said.

He finished with a great baseline move and finish, another rebound and two free throws, finishing with 13 points, three steals, three rebounds and four assists.

"It's amazing ... everything we have been through, just a long season, eight months, not doing the regular things kids get to do, spending so much time with each other ... it's just the cherry on top," Poole told ESPN after the game.

"Right in the beginning of the game, I knew it was going to go in our direction. Having a talented group of guys like this, you just kind of know everything is going to click ... having the confidence of the guys to have my back, have confidence in my shooting the shot [at the end of the third quarter], I just thought it was good right when it came off my hands."

More than the numbers, Poole showed a willingness to take the big shot and some swagger throughout the tournament featuring the nation's top preps.