BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: NOTRE DAME

November 7, 2008



Verbal Commitment ALERT: Thomas Knight, 6'8 C/PF from Dirigo (ME) High School


Projected 2009-2010 Roster


Seniors: Luke Harangody (BF), Tory Jackson (PG), Jonathan Peoples (G),
Juniors: Carlton Scott (F), Tyrone Nash (F), Tim Abromaitis (F), Ben Hansbrough* (SG)
Sophomores: Scott Martin** (SF)
Freshmen: Joey Brooks (SF), Jack Cooley (BF), Mike Broghammer (PF), Thomas Knight (PF/C)

* 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.

Over the summer, Thomas Knight emerged as a rare high-major prospect out of the state of Maine. His recruitment began to take off and the process was completed last Wednesday night. The Dirigo High School star made a visit to the Notre Dame campus last weekend and Knight is Ready to Fight for the Irish and Hop Aboard on Fill Boat to Notre Dame (Sun Journal).

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Thomas Knight joins an intriguing Notre Dame recruiting class that already included Joey Brooks (SF), Jack Cooley (BF) and Mike Broghammer (PF). Coach Mike Brey is certainly looking to add some beef inside to a roster that will likely have only 2009-2010 season senior Luke Harangody as a true post player. Knight stands f-foot-8 and weighs in the vicinity of 250 pounds, definitely giving the Irish some more bulk in the paint.

After visiting Davidson, Maine, Northeastern, Rutgers, and finally Notre Dame, the trip to South Bend blew Knight away and he made his decision earlier this week. Knight, even though he is built like a potential right guard, will surprise people with his perimeter skill set that will allow him to face-up and knock down shots. Knight is a hard-working player that is intelligent both on and off the court, making him a nice fit for Mike Brey's program at Notre Dame.

Earlier this fall the Irish picked up a third commitment 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 one 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, Knight and Broghammer, the Irish are in very good position for a strong class in 2009. They have already begun to turn their attention towards the class of 2010 by putting a full court press on Albany (NY) guard Taran Buie and Pittsburgh-area G/F Tom Droney as both visiting the same weekend as Thomas Knight. Other targets being tracked by the Irish early in the class of 2010 include another big man from New England in Evan Smotrycz, Texan guard Rickey Scott, Michigan guard Ray McCallum, Buffalo (NY) big man Will Regan and Illinois shooter-extraordinaire Ben Brust.

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 immediately 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 recipient Tyler Hansbrough. The native of Poplar Bluff (MO) averaged 10.5 points a game as a sophomore, 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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