By GARY DEMSKI
MISHAWAKA – Hoosier Hysteria was alive and well on Friday night as Marian High School honored three of its most accomplished boys basketball players during a special halftime ceremony.
The jerseys of No. 3 Devin Cannady, No. 11 Demetrius Jackson and No. 13 Jaden Ivey were retired in front of a sold-out crowd at the annual "Holy War" rivalry game against South Bend Saint Joseph.
The ceremony, held on Demetrius Jackson Court, celebrated the legacy of these legendary athletes, each of whom was a Northern Indiana Conference MVP. All three went on to play NCAA Division I basketball and had careers in the NBA.
A Legacy of Excellence
Robb Berger, in his 18th year as Marian’s head coach, has guided the program to new heights, coaching some of the most talented players to ever wear the Knights’ jersey.
“Demetrius, Devin, and Jaden are undeniably among the best to come through this area,” said Berger. “They put our program on the map and shaped it into what it is today. They’ve earned every accolade they’ve received.”
Jackson is Marian’s boys all-time leading scorer with 1,934 career points. The 2013 graduate went on to play at Notre Dame and was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 2016 NBA Draft as the 45th overall pick. He broke a nearly 25-year-old scoring record at Marian, earned the 2013 Burger King Athlete of the Year award in South Bend, and participated in the prestigious McDonald's All-American Game. Jackson was also Marian's first Indiana All-Star.
“Legacy, hard work, perseverance, commitment—I'm extremely honored to be going up with my brothers,” said Jackson. “It is an amazing memory I will cherish with me the rest of my life.”
Cannady, who ranks third on Marian's boys all-time scoring list with 1,475 points, followed in Jackson’s footsteps. A 2015 graduate, Cannady played at Princeton University, where he led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament. He now plays professionally in Greece and was joined at the ceremony by his wife, former UConn women's basketball player Katie Lou Samuelson.
“All of us having this dream of playing in the NBA, coming from Marian, and sharing this honor together today is super special,” said Cannady.
Ivey, a dynamic guard who scored 958 points during his three seasons at Marian before finishing his prep career at La Lumiere, continued the proud Ivey family legacy. After an outstanding college career at Purdue, he was selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. Now in his third season with the Pistons and currently sidelined as he recovers from a lower body injury, Ivey is emerging as one of the NBA’s rising stars.
“It’s cool to be able to share this with my brothers Devin and Demetrius, who I grew up with and played with throughout my whole journey in basketball,” said Ivey. “It’s amazing to see the three of us getting our jerseys retired and that we all have played in the NBA.”
Niele Ivey, mother of Jaden Ivey and head coach of the No. 2-ranked Notre Dame women’s basketball team, was also in attendance for the ceremony.
“I’m just so happy to be here to support him,” said Ivey. “For Jaden to leave his legacy here at Marian and have his name in the rafters means so much to us.”
In Indiana, the saying is, it’s more than just basketball — it’s a passion. As the celebration concluded, Saint Joseph went on to win the NIC contest 57-54, with a game-winning 3-pointer in the final moments, capping off an unforgettable night.
Devin Cannady, Jaden Ivey and Demetrius Jackson had their jerseys retired by Marian High School in a ceremony Friday. Ivey played three years for the Knights before finishing his prep career at La Lumiere. He is in his third season with the Detroit Pistons. Cannady currently plays in Greece.