BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: NOTRE DAME

September 8, 2008


Verbal Commitment ALERT: Mike Broghammer, 6'8 PF from Hopkins (MN) High School


Projected 2008-2009 Roster


Seniors: Ryan Ayers (F/G), Kyle McAlarney (G), Zack Hillesland (F), Luke Zeller (BF/C)
Juniors: Luke Harangody (BF), Tory Jackson (PG), Jonathan Peoples (G), Ben Hansbrough* (SG)
Sophomores: Carlton Scott (F), Tyrone Nash (F), Tim Abromaitis (F), Scott Martin** (SF)
Freshmen: NONE
Early 2009 Commitments: Joey Brooks (SF), Jack Cooley (BF), Mike Broghammer (PF)

* Sitting out 2008-2009 season per NCAA transfer rules; will have two years of eligibility at Notre Dame beginning with the 2009-2010 season.

** Sitting out 2008-2009 season per NCAA transfer rules; will have three years of eligibility at Notre Dame beginning with the 2009-2010 season.

Mike Brey and Notre Dame hosted some impressive recruits during the past weekend for the season opener of Notre Dame football, including Mike Broghammer, Matt Vogrich and 2010 guard Tom Droney was expected to make an unofficial visit. At least one player found the situation to be all he had hoped for and more as Broghammer is to Join Brey's Team in 2009 (South Bend Tribune).

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With already two verbal commitments from high school players in the 2009 class, including Jack Cooley and Joey Brooks, the Irish have picked up a third over the weekend with Minnetonka (MN) native Mike Broghammer pledging for ND.

Broghammer is a 6-foot-8, 215 lb power forward that knows his role on the floor and goes to work in the paint. Last season at Hopkins High School, Broghammer averaged about 12 points and 10 rebounds for coach Ken Novak and the Royals. A player like Broghammer provides depth behind Big East player of the year Luke Harangody upon his arrival and should be a nice compliment to Jack Cooley in the class, giving ND another physical player in the tough Big East, which will naturally help the NCAA Tournament Odds of the Irish in the future.

Cooley is the heir to the throne in the post for Notre Dame that is currently occupied by Harangody. Cooley is a very similar player to Harangody as he comes to work every game and thrives in a rugged game. He is well equipped for the physical play of the Big East. Cooley is a double-double machine with Glenbrook South and knows his place is in the paint.

Cooley joins Joey Brooks, who chose Notre Dame over Arizona State, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest back in early Novemeber of 2007. He was an AAU teammate of former Irish target Steven Tchiengang who the Irish pursued until he committed to Vanderbilt.

The 2009 class still has two scholarships available with Ty Proffitt deciding to transfer to Morehead State after Notre Dame's recent trip to Ireland. With commitments in hand from Cooley, Brooks and Broghammer, the Irish are in very good position for a strong class in 2009 and now look to cap it off in a big way. In addition to Broghammer this past weekend, another top 2009 target in Lake Forest Academy's Matt Vogrich visited the Irish. Vogrich has seen his stock explode this summer and his shooting prowess has schools from coast to coast after him, including UCLA and Wake Forest, as well as ND. The big prize that Brey and the Irish have been hot on the trail of is Raleigh (NC) 6'9 forward Ryan Kelly, whose stock has soared the last several months. We will continue to track Irish possibilities on the recruiting trail as the official visit period heats up and the attraction of Notre Dame football is used to their advantage.

Notre Dame, which did not sign any high school players from the class of 2008, does have a pair of new faces in the program for the 2008-2009 season. Scott Martin played a vital role on the Purdue Boilermakers NCAA Tournament team of the 2007-2008 season. Martin averaged 8.5 points a game and nearly 4 rebounds a contest in 22 minutes a game, appearing in 32 contests for the 25-9 squad.

Martin hit 31% of his three-point attempts as a freshman and was second on the team with 78 made free throws, showing his ability to play inside and out offensively. The 6'8 wing played high school basketball at Valparaiso High School and was an AAU teammate of Irish big man Luke Harangody. After transferring from Purdue, Martin also visited Butler and Valpo, but he looks like an ideal player in Mike Brey's scheme and should step imeediately into the position vacated by Ryan Ayers in the line-up after Ayers graduates. Martin will have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2008-2009 season.

Earlier this spring Notre Dame added Mississippi State transfer Ben Hansbrough, the younger bother of national Player of the Year recepient Tyler Hansbrough. The native of Poplar Bluff (MO) averaged 10.5 points a game as a sophomre, connecting on 36% of his shots from beyond the arc. Hansbrough played over 33 minutes a game in his 30 contests this past season, helping Mississippi State to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. Hansbrough could be the heir to Kyle McAlarney when he graduates and will have two years of eligibility ofter sitting out the 2008-2009 season.


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