Marian standout point guard Demetrius Jackson will decide Thursday on whether he will play college basketball.

Jackson is deciding between Notre Dame and Illinois.

The decision will air live on ESPNU between 5-6pm. Jackson will be in studio at WNDU to make the announcement.

The Marian senior visited Notre Dame this weekend and appeared to have a great time on the sidelines with the Irish coaching staff. The fact that he will now make his decision just after a visit to Notre Dame should make the Irish feel good.

Illinois has one advantage on the Irish in playing time. Jackson will likely be able to start immediately at Illinois where he will have to move into a rotation with Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant if he came to Notre Dame.

Even still, with the Irish on the move to the ACC--the appeal to come to Notre Dame perhaps has never been higher. The possibility of playing the likes of Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse, Pitt and Maryland every night must be enticing for the top Indiana hoops prospect.

The other appeal for Jackson would be staying close to home and becoming Irish men's basketball program's version of Skylar Diggins. Jackson and Diggins have known each other for years dating back to when Jackson used to live across the street from Diggins' father's basketball center.

Diggins and Jackson have had numerous conversations about the appeal of playing in front of the hometown crowd.

National Signing Day is not until November. Irish men's basketball coach Mike Brey won't be allowed to comment on Jackson until then.