BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: NOTRE DAME

October 27, 2006


COMMITMENT ALERT: Tim Abromaitis (F), Farmington, CT.


Projected 2007-2008 Roster


Seniors: Robert Kurz (F)
Juniors: Ryan Ayers (F/G), Kyle McAlarney (G), Zack Hillesland (F), Luke Zeller (BF/C)
Sophomores: Luke Harangody (BF), Tory Jackson (PG), Jonathan Peoples (G), Joe Harden (WF)
Freshmen: Carlton Scott (F), Tyrone Nash (F), Ty Proffitt (G), Tim Abromaitis (F)

Farmington (CT) native Tim Abromaitis becomes the third player this week to commit to Mike Brey and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, joining Tyrone Nash and Ty Proffitt, both whom committed earlier in the week, and Carlton Scott in the 2007 Irish class to date. The Hartford Courant reports on the story of Abrom aitis Committing to Notre Dame.

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It is another commitment, seemingly out of nowhere, for Notre Dame that comes as a surprise. Tim Abromaitis chose the Irish this week, after a weekend visit, over Northwestern, Penn, Princeton, Yale, Bucknell, Rice and Lafayette. Abromaitis is an excellent student (obvious by the level of academic institutions interested in his skills) who is your classic high-integrity student-athlete. He is not too shabby on the basketball court either as the 6'6 forward averaged 26 PPG and 10 rebounds a contest as a junior. He matches that high acadmic intellect with a high basketball IQ that he combines with a deft shooting touch that makes him a typical Notre Dame recruit under Mike Brey.

The Irish still have one scholarship left for 2007. With just one senior on the 2007-2008 projected roster, that means a limited supply of scholarships for 2008 as well. The Irish still need to land a Big East body for the center position, in my mind, a player that will alter and block shots and rebound from the post. The available talent at the position is pretty well picked over at this point, but we did not really see Carlton Scott, Ty Proffitt or Abromaitis on the Irish radar either until they committed.

To be honest, I really thought the Irish needed a little more in this class. Individually, each of the four commitments to this point sound like solid players that can contribute in the Big East, and I really to like Ty Nash and his potential. However, you get a sense at how far behind some of the other top schools in the Big East Notre Dame is recruiting when Proffitt (from Louisville) and Abromaitis (from Connecticut) never got a look from the local Irish Big East rivals.

The make-up of this potential roster still leads me to believe that the Irish will have tough times ahead against the Big East style of play. The need more physical players and full court athleticism to move up in the conference. They have a good group of skill players that fit into Mike Brey's system and style, but when the chips are down and the Big East game becomes a possession by possession grind where a defensive stop or big rebound is needed, do the Irish have the make-up to get it done? That is the question that will need to be answered with this group of players in the future.




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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: NOTRE DAME

October 25, 2006


COMMITMENT ALERT: Ty Proffitt, (G) South Laurel HS (KY)


Projected 2007-2008 Roster


Seniors: Robert Kurz (F)
Juniors: Ryan Ayers (F/G), Kyle McAlarney (G), Zack Hillesland (F), Luke Zeller (BF/C)
Sophomores: Luke Harangody (BF), Tory Jackson (PG), Jonathan Peoples (G), Joe Harden (WF)
Freshmen: Carlton Scott (F), Tyrone Nash (F), Ty Proffitt (G)

Two commits in two days for Notre Dame and Mike Bray as South Laurel's Ty Proffitt Commits to Irish (Louisville Courier-Journal). He joins Tyrone Nash as recent ND commits this week.

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Entering his senior season, Ty Proffitt is one of the top candidates for Mr Basketball in the state of Kentucky coming off a junior season where he averaged 13 PPG and was one of just two juniors selected to the Courier-Journal's All-State 1st team. The 6'4 guard can play either backcourt position and could develop into a solid floor general with size. He seems like a perfect compliment to existing guards Tory Jackson and Kyle McAlarney on the roster. Anarea to work on for Proffitt would be the range on his jumper as he shot just 28% from 3-pt range last season. Proffitt had previously visited Winthrop (offer) and had scheduled visits to Stanford and Kentucky, but after a visit last weekend to Notre Dame, his mind was made up.

With Proffitt, Tyrone Nash and Carlton Scott committing, the Irish have just one scholarship open for 2007. Also, with just one senior on the 2007-2008 roster, as it stands now, just one more for 2008. I still insist that their biggest need is a strong post player that can alter, or block, shots and rebound. As for the big men, nobody currently jumps out to me as a shot-blocking post player that the Irish have on their radar, but then again, I did not see Carlton Scott or Ty Proffitt prominently on their radar, so we shall see! A physical big man in the post is really the final piece they are missing in putting together a solid nucleus of players in these last two classes. Nobody is probably called a difference-maker, but they can definitely look to make a bigger slash in 2008 as the pickings are getting slim at this time.



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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: NOTRE DAME

October 24, 2006


COMMITMENT ALERT: Tyrone Nash, (F) Northfield Mount Hermon Prep


Projected 2007-2008 Roster


Seniors: Robert Kurz (F)
Juniors: Ryan Ayers (F/G), Kyle McAlarney (G), Zack Hillesland (F), Luke Zeller (BF/C)
Sophomores: Luke Harangody (BF), Tory Jackson (PG), Jonathan Peoples (G), Joe Harden (WF)
Freshmen: Carlton Scott (F), Tyrone Nash (F)

Adam Zagoria of the West Herlad News updates his blog with the news that Tyrone Nash Commits to Notre Dame and Irish coach Mike Brey.

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Tyrone Nash attended Lawrence Woodmwere Academy in Long Island for his high school career and was a late bloomer that became a hot target late in the spring with schools such as Kentucky, Seton Hall and others recruiting him for the 2006-2007 season. Nash played well on the AAU circuit and decided to take an additional prep season at Northfield Mount Hermon where Kentucky, Stanford, Seton Hall and St. John's continued to recruit him aggressively. Even Florida paid a recent visit to watch him work out. In the end, he decided playing in the Big East with Notre Dame was the place for him.

Nash is a combo-forward that is still improving his game, especially in what he can do away from the basket. Nash is not only a good player, but an excellent student, so Notre Dame was an ideal situation. He also seemed to be very high on St. John's, but the Redstorm does seem to have a stockpile of talented combo forwards as well. He is the type of player that Notre Dame could really use and he looks to be a nice piece with the rest of the players in their 2006 and 2007 classes to date.

With Nash and Carlton Scott committing, the Irish have two scholarships open for 2007. I still insist that their biggest need is a strong post player that can alter, or block, shots and rebound. As for the big men, nobody currently jumps out to me as a shot-blocking post player that the Irish have on their radar, but then again, I did not see Carlton Scott prominently on their radar, so we shall see! A physical big man in the post is really the final piece they are missing in putting together a solid nucleus of players in these last two classes. Nobody is probably called a difference-maker, but they can definitely look to make a bigger slash in 2008 as the pickings are getting slim at this time.



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