BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: NOTRE DAME

April 27, 2009


Verbal Commitment ALERT: Eric Atkins, 6'1 PG from Mt. St. Joseph (MD) 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)
2010 Commitment: Eric Atkins (PG)

* Harangody has declared for the 2009 NBA Draft, but has not hired an agent. He still has the option of returning to school.

A source with knowledge of the situation, has informed the NBE Basketball Report that 6-foot-1 point guard Eric Atkins committed to Notre Dame earlier this evening. Atkins is the first commitment for Irish head coach Mike Brey and staff in the class of 2010.

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Probably the biggest position of need for Mike Brey in the Notre Dame recruiting class of 2010 is point guard. The Irish hope to have that position taken care off with the verbal commitment of Eric Atkins, a 6-foot-2 guard from Mt. St. Joseph High School in the Baltimore (MD)-area.

Atkins has been on the NBE radar for over a year now and our staff has been impressed with him on and off the court with each encounter. On the court, Atkins is long and lean, pushing 6'3 nowadays and working diligently at adding to his frame and is up to about 175 pounds, maybe a little more by now. Atkins has always shown a willingness to defend, set-up teammates while running the team and his own ability to score points when needed. Off the court, Eric has always been well spoken and is a good student that will be an asset to the Irish program.

Throughout his recruitment, schools such as Georgetown and Pittsburgh were very involved until receiving commitments from other guards and schools like UMass, Vanderbilt and Alabama were showing increased interest in his services.

Atkins very likely could be the only true point guard on the roster when he arrives in South Bend as Tory Jackson and Jonathan Peoples are seniors in the 2009-2010 season. The Irish were also very active in the recruitment of NJ-native Kyrie Irving and were 'probably' going to receive a visit from Irving this summer, from what the St. Pat's standout told NBE this past weekend at the Providence Jam Fest. However, the competition for Irving was steep and the neighbors at Indiana have put themselves in very good position.

At this point, the Irish will likely have three more scholarship open in the class of 2010. With point guard out of the way, Pittsburgh-area G/F Tom Droney, a pair of Illinois shooter-extraordinaires in Ben Brust and Alex Rossi as well as Delaware big man Malcolm Gilbert are other current targets, with certainly more to emerge in the coming weeks.

Thomas Knight joined an intriguing Notre Dame recruiting class that already included Joey Brooks (SF), Jack Cooley (BF) and Mike Broghammer (PF) just before the November signing period. 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 6-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.


Notre Dame, which did not sign any high school players from the class of 2008, does have a pair of new faces that will also make their debuts on the court in 2009-2010 with the incoming freshmen. 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.

Last 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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IRISH LOOKING AT FORMER UK COMMIT

April 16, 2009


In Billy Gillispie's short time as head coach at the University of Kentucky, the hard-working recruiter seemed to have the market cornered with early commits. While the wins on the court were not coming as frequently as the decision makers at UK would have preferred, Gillispie was subsequently fired after just two years as the Wildcats' head coach.

With John Calipari now the head coach of Kentucky, many of those early verbal pledges have decided to look elsewhere, including one of the Bluegrass State's top prospects in the class of 2010, Scott County HS power forward Dakotah Euton.

"[Dakotah] de-committed from Kentucky with the coaching change and has Notre Dame very high on his list," said Euton's AAU coach, Ritchie Davis of the Wisconsin Playground Warrios, to the NBE Basketball Report.

Euton on his AAU teammates got the spring travel season off to a great start by going 7-0 and capturing the 17-U championship last weekend at the KnoxVegas Heat Invitational at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Euton, who is not the most athletic 6-foot-8 power forward on the scene, set the tone for his team with intense play and effort in the post, piling up solid numbers all weekend. His production was highlighted by a 22-point, 11-rebound performance in a semifinal win over the CP3 All-Stars of North Carolina.

"Dakotah is not very athletic but he makes up for his limited athleticism by playing so hard," said Davis. "His desire really started to rub off on some of our younger players this past weekend during our first event."

A skilled forward, who can step away from the basket and drain shots out to the three-point range, Euton has some similarities to current Irish star Luke Harangody with his constant effort and diverse offensive game. Other highlights over the weekend included a 21-point, 9-rebound performance against the Worldwide Renegades (GA) and a 14-point, 13-rebound effort against SYF Players (IN).

"Dakotah is a very skilled forward," says Davis. "He is easily one of the best shooters on our team, and his ability to step away from the basket and consistently knock down the three-point shot really enables our structured high/low motion offense to really work."

In addition to the Irish, Boston College, Davidson, Iowa State, North Carolina State, Oregon State, Purdue, Stanford and Virginia are among the other schools making it known they would like to recruit Euton now that he is not committed to Kentucky.

This weekend, Euton and his Playground Warrior teammates will be in Little Rock (AR) for the Real Deal in the Rock, followed by a trip to Akron (OH) for the King James Shooting Stars Classic. They will close out the month in Fort Wayne (IN) for the Spiece Run ‘n Slam where the NBE Basketball Report will look to check in on Euton and his team in action.

Check the NBE Basketball Report for more coverage of the Irish and the efforts of the Notre Dame staff on the recruiting trail.

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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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JOEY BROOKS: IN HIS OWN WORDS

October 6, 2008


Joey Brooks still has over a year to go before he will begin practice as a member of the Notre Dame basketball team. However, he already seems like a veteran of the program since he has now been a committed member of Mike Brey's 2009 recruiting class for 11 months, making his decision to pledge with the Irish last November.

The Houston native, who attends Strake Jesuit High School, impressed the NBE Basketball Report tremendously this summer as reported in the Lebron James Skills Academy Update, Part I as it definitely looks like the Irish Got a Pot of Gold in Brooks which is evident once again in his Q&A with NBE that follows below...

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NBE Basketball Report (NBE): What is your current height, weight?

Joey Brooks (JB): I'm 6'5, 200


NBE: On the court, what part of your game do you feel will be your biggest strength helping you from the beginning at Notre Dame?

JB: My biggest strength will be my ability to get into the lane and make plays for both myself and my teammates. Scoring, finding open shooters and getting to the free throw line, things like that.


NBE: What part of your game has improved the most in the last year?

JB: The range on my jumpshot has improved a lot in the past year.


NBE: What part of your game do you plan to work on the most prior to getting to ND?

JB: And at the same time, I really need to work on the consistency of my jumper, which will take me from being a pretty good shooter to being a really really good shooter.



NBE: What was the main reason for choosing ND?

JB: The main reason for choosing ND for me was the obvious opportunity to play significant minutes early, that was really big. And Coach Brey, I love coach Brey, he is my kind of coach, a players coach. Not to mention the top of the line education which will allow me to do whatever I want and be successful after basketball.


NBE: What is your relationship with Coach Brey and the staff members?

JB: I am really close with all (of) the staff, but I am closest with Coach Brey, because I was recruited mainly by Coach Cross and Coach Brey and when coach Cross left to take the head job at Toledo, a bunch of schools started asking questions and stuff like that but it was a blessing in disguise because coach Brey and I started talking a lot more and that made our relationship stronger. Also Coach Kearney, Coach Solomon, coach Inglesby and coach Balanis are all great guys who I'm very comfortable with.


NBE: What other schools did you consider?

JB: I was considering Wake Forest, Marquette, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Pitt and Vanderbilt.


NBE: What was the highlight of your recent visit to South Bend?

JB: The Highlight of my visit was just hanging out and talking with all the players and my future teammates (Jack Cooley and HOPEFULLY Ryan Kelly), especially Kyle M, Luke Z and Ryan Ayers. Three of the seniors who were giving me advice and confidence (whether they knew it or not). Those guys are great and it was cool hanging out with them and soaking up as much knowledge as I could!


NBE: What was on the weekend's agenda? Who did you spend most time with?

JB: I spent the most time with Carleton Scott, (luke Harabgody) 'Gody, Tory (Jackson) and like I said Kyle (McAlarney), but I got a chance to meet all the guys including the two transfers who I like a lot, Scott (Martin) and Ben (Hansbrough). The agenda was really hectic, we did so many things. We went to the pep rally which was ridiculous, played and worked out with some of the players, of course went to the football game, had dinner at coach' house. We pretty much did everything!

NBE: On a topic much more serious than basketball, the state of Texas has gone through a tough time in the wake of Hurricane Ike, could you relay some of your experiences related to the storm?

JB: Well as far as the hurricane, we had to stay in Chicago an extra day because of Ike, then when we finally got home, luckily we only had damage to our fences and some debris and tree branches in our front yard. Our electricity was knocked out for about a week which was interesting, nothing like a little perspective! But I have no complaints because My family was safe and no major damage really happened to our house or anything. I just want to send out prayers to the people who lost loved ones or had significant property damage because of Ike.


Anyone who would like to give to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fun to help victims of Hurricane Ike and other disasters, both present and in the future, please visit the National Disaster Relief Fund Page at american.redcross.org.

Thank you...and, thank you and best of luck to Joey Brooks. He has a bright future on and off the court ahead of him!

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MIKE BROGHAMMER: IN HIS OWN WORDS

September 16, 2008



Recently, Notre Dame secured a verbal commitment from class of 2009 power forward Mike Broghammer out of Hopkins High School in Minnesota. Broghammer took an official visit to the ND campus for the opening weekend of their college football season. Here is how he described himself, his visit and why he chose Notre Dame in an interview with the NBE Basketball Report.


NBE Basketball Report: What is your current height? Weight?

Mike Broghammer: 6'8", 230 lbs

NBE: Tell us about your visit to Notre Dame last weekend? Highlights, who you met, spent time with and the most lasting impression...

MB: I really enjoyed the visit. I spent time with all of the players (and) they are all great guys. The football game was the highlight because there was such an energy at the game. It was a great experience.

NBE: Why did you choose ND?

MB: When I was down there it just felt right for me and Notre Dame is know for great academics.

NBE: What other schools were you considering?

MB: I was considering Penn State and Illinois State.

NBE: What part of your game do you feel will be your best asset at Notre Dame?

MB: My defense and my ability to run the floor will be a huge asset on the team.

NBE: What area of your game will you work on the most prior to arriving in South Bend?

MB: From here on out I am working on my ball-handling and outside shooting.

NBE: What are your goals for your senior season at Hopkins?

MB: My goal for the Hopkins school season is just to get myself to a level where I could play college basketball and hopefully win (the) state (title) while I'm at it.

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TOM DRONEY VISITS NOTRE DAME

September 8, 2008


While our first Notre Dame Recruiting Update today focused on the verbal commitment Mike Broghammer made to the Irish while visiting South Bend this weekend, this entry will look at an unofficial visit from a top 2010 prospect.

Tom Droney, a 6-foot-6 guard weighing 186 pounds, recently made the trip from his Pennsylvania home to South Bend for the home opener of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football season. Naturally, the trip to see the Golden Dome and Notre Dame campus left a very positive impression of the Sewickley Academy junior.

"I had a good time on the trip to Notre Dame," Droney told the NBE Basketball Report in an e-mail this morning. "I met with the whole coaching staff and had a chance to play with the team and the other recruits that were visiting."

The pageantry of college football does not get any better than at Notre Dame and Irish men's basketball head coach Mike Brey certainly enjoys the advantages of showing off the campus to recruits on fall weekends when their is a buzz in the air.

"The campus was really nice," Droney added. "The program speaks for itself and it is one of the best teams in the Big East."

As reported earlier at the NBE Basketball Report, Droney seems to be on the fast track towards a college decision which could come by month's end for the talented high school junior. Before deciding, there is still some schools to see and coaches to visit.

"As far as my recruitment goes, I still really love Pitt but it is good to see what every other school has to offer," Droney explained. "I am going to be visiting Wake Forest and Davidson on Friday the 26th."

Also, Notre Dame is going to try and make another pitch, led by their head coach. "Coach Brey is a really genuine, down to earth guy,"Droney continued. "He and one of the assistansts are coming to my school to watch a workout next week so we will see what happens from there."

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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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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: NOTRE DAME

February 5, 2008


VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Jack Cooley (BF), Glenbrook South HS (IL)


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)
Sophomores: Carlton Scott (F), Tyrone Nash (F), Ty Proffitt (G), Tim Abromaitis (F)
Freshmen: No Commitments yet
Early 2009 Commitments: Joey Brooks (SF), Jack Cooley (BF)

Although Notre Dame has yet to receive a commitment from the class of 2008 (two scholarships open), the Irish have already added a pair for 2009. Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey and the Fighting Irish Land Class of 2008 Glenbrook South Star Jack Cooley (Chicago Hoops) after a weekend visit to South Bend.

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Jack Cooley's recruiting was picking up steam in the last few weeks as Illinois, Notre Dame and Wisconsin all were present at recent games and the offers began coming in quickly. After making an unofficial visit to Notre Dame last weekend, Cooley and his family decided the Big East school was the place for him.

Cooley is the heir to the throne in the post for Notre Dame that is currently occupied by Luke 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. He was an AAU teammate of another Irish target Steven Tchiengang who the Irish pursued until he committed to Vanderbilt. Brooks averaged 17.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last season, his first on the varsity. He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 205 pounds.

The Irish still have two scholarships open for the class of 2008, and they could still add someone in the spring period, although nothing seems to be on the cusp.

The 2009 class will have four scholarships available plus any unused from 2008. With Cooley and Brooks in the fold early, the Irish are in very good position for a strong class in 2009. Cooley's Rising Stars AAU teammate Nik Garcia, a 6'5 G/F from Niles West HS has also received attention from the Irish as has Illinois guard Diamond Taylor.

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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: NOTRE DAME

November 7, 2007


VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Joey Brooks (F), Strake Jesuit College Preparatory School in Houston (TX)


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)
Sophomores: Carlton Scott (F), Tyrone Nash (F), Ty Proffitt (G), Tim Abromaitis (F)
Freshmen: No Commitments yet
Early 2009 Commitments: Joey Brooks (SF)

Joey Brooks made the trip from Texas to Indiana over the weekend and the trek changed his life. Brooks Connects on Early Notre Dame Visit (South Bend Tribune) and the 2009 prospect offered a verbal commit to the Irish shortly after his trip.

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It has been over a year since we have reported on a Notre Dame basketball commitment for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and head coach Mike Brey. On the heels of a few misses in the class of 2008, including the highly regarded younger brother of current player Luke Zeller, Tyler, who opted for North Carolina this week, the Irish dipped into the class of 2009 and nabbed Houston forward Joey Brooks after a visit to South Bend last weekend.

Brooks chose Notre Dame over Arizona State, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest. He was an AAU teammate of another Irish target Steven Tchiengang who the Irish pursued until he committed to Vanderbilt. Brooks averaged 17.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last season, his first on the varsity. He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 205 pounds.

It is unlikely the Irish will sign a player in the early period for 2008 shich begins next Wednesday, November 14th. The Irish have two scholarships open but have had a tough time filling them this fall. They will likely look for an emerging target in the spring and will have at least four, maybe five, scholarships for 2009, even after Brooks' commitment.


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NOTRE DAME 2007-2008 SNAPSHOT

May 7, 2007



Head Coach: Mike Brey
2006-2007 Record: 24-8 (11-5 Big East) NCAA Tournament 1st Round


Returning Players:
Rob Kurz, Senior (Power Forward)
Zach Hillesland, Junior (Forward)
Luke Zeller, Junior (Big Forward)
Ryan Ayers, Junior (Small Forward)
Jonathan Peoples, Sophomore (Guard)
Joe Harden, Sophomore (Guard/Forward)
Luke Harangody, Sophomore (Forward/Center)
Tory Jackson, Sophomore (Point Guard)

Incoming Players:
Carlton Scott (Forward)
Tyrone Nash (Forward)
Ty Proffitt (Guard)
Tim Ambromaitis (Forward)

Graduated Players:
Russell Carter
Colin Falls

Open Items/Issues:
After a successful 2006-2007 season the Irish administration rewarded Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey with a contract extension that ties him up through the 2012-2013 season in South Bend. The Irish returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four seasons under Brey and he was honored as the Big East Coach of the Year by his peers.

Kyle McAlarney was suspended from the school for his arrest of marijuana possession last winter. He is expected to return to the school and the team for his junior season. With the graduation of Russell Carter and Colin Falls, McAlarney's ability to score from the perimeter is a much needed shot in the arm for the Irish next season.


Summary:
We obviously missed badly on the Irish last year, picking them to finish outside of the 12-team Big East Tournament field. Not only did the Irish prove us to be wrong, but they earned they fourth 1st round bye of the conference tournament.

The Irish used a balanced team where everyone did their part from one night to the next. Even when they lost Kyle McAlarney to a suspension just prior to Big Easy play, Tory Jackson stepped up and took over as the team's point guard. Jackson's quickness and fellow freshman Luke Harangody's bulk inside was a new dimension that the Irish lacked the previous few seasons which led to disappointing finishes.

Starting with Jackson and Harangody the Irish have two impressive pieces to build with for the future. With McAlarney fully expected back in the mix and senior Rob Kurz playing the role of do-it-all forward, the Irish have an excellent nucleus. Now, for them to equal last season's success, one of their three other returning juniors (Luke Zeller, Zach Hillesland or Ryan Ayers) will have to lift their game up to be a consistent scoring threat on the wing or the perimeter. My guess is that Ayers will get the strongest look for the role because of his sweet-shooting stroke and the desire to give him the confidence needed to play that role. Zeller and Hillesland both look to be complimentary forwards that will give the Irish a burst of energy (Hillesland) and some offensive match-up problems (Zeller's perimeter skill) in their roles, that should continue, but finding a wing scoring threat to help ease the losses of Russell Carter and Colin Falls is what the Irish will need.

I have a little trouble placing this Irish team looking forward to next season. Will their chemistry be clicking just as well as the past year? Carter and Falls are the only players they lose, but they accounted for 40% of their scoring and each offered a skill set that was essential in the pieces falling together last season.

At this point, I expect the Irish to be in the NCAA hunt all season long. They will probably be on the bubble throughout the season and seeing how their junior class steps up and how things shake out around them will be very interesting to how their season finishes.

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