In-state programs standing out early on for 2025 4-star CB Mark Zackery

Indianapolis (Ind.) Ben Davis four-star 2025 cornerback Mark Zackery hasn’t really gotten to travel much this year like other top prospects. Zackery was playing a pivotal part in helping his basketball team win a state title and finish undefeated.

While the undefeated run was memorable, Zackery said he’s ready to turn his attention towards football and the remainder of the spring and summer ahead.

“Right now things are picking up going from basketball to spring ball camps and stuff like that,” Zackery told On3. “I’m getting back in contact with coaches I’ve already talked to and overall the process has been good so far.”

In the limited visits he was able to take since the start of the new year, Zackery visited Indiana in January and visited practices for Louisville, Cincinnati, Ohio State and Purdue.

Purdue extended an offer to Zackery on Jan. 13 and he was able to meet with the new staff in West Lafeyette during his spring practice visit. Zackery noted that they’re young, energetic and he liked what he saw when he watched some film with them.

During that visit he met with new Purdue coach Ryan Walters. While the two talked some football, Zackery said Walters wanted to know more about him off of the field.

“We talked more about basketball and life stuff,” said Zackery, the No. 202 overall player in the 2025 class. “He just doesn’t incorporate football with just recruiting me as he wants to make his players better men and I loved hearing that. I’m a big relationship guy so being close to the coaches I’m talking to and building relationships is big for me so I can figure out what school is the right fit for me.”

Indiana feels familiar to Zackery

Purdue may have a new coaching staff but Indiana offers something no other school can for Zackery.

Zackery is more than familiar with Hoosiers coach Tom Allen as Allen is a frequent visitor to his school. Prior to his college coaching days, Allen was a successful high school coach in the state and coached at Ben Davis in the late 90’s before being the school’s head coach from 2004-2006.

Zackery’s built a relationship with Allen through Allen’s trips back to Ben Davis keeping the Hoosiers high on his list early on.

“Coach Allen’s my guy and he’ been to the school a lot obviously because he loves coming back and spreading information to our team,” Zackery said. “He’s recruiting me hard and I got to sit with a him at a basketball game in January when I had an off week. We talked for like 30 minutes about how he went through Ben Davis, what he took away from it and how we built our program is how he wants to build IU’s.

“Just incorporating how we do stuff is how they do it at IU and he wants the in-state kids to stay home. He feels like I’m one of the best in the state and he wants me to go there. “

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