In reply to: Meant to mention Mo posted by IRISHFAN2008
That was a great summary of NI's recruiting strategy and its pros and cons.
I was curious if you ever put out a list of prospects that you wish the coaching staff would take a look at but haven't shown any signs of interest yet.
One that comes to mind is 2024 G Morgan Cheli. I think she could be a game changer, a big guard (6-2) that is athletic, can create and is a ball hawk on defense which is something I think the team needs. She has offers from both Oregon schools and Tennesee.
...'23 and/or '24 prospects I wish Niele and Mike would go after but seemingly have no interest in....there may be a '22 prospect or two, in there, as well.
Dillon, Baba, and many others do their sleuthing through Twitter follows, who might be visiting, player comments, where the coaching staff is visiting.
It doesn't seem to be out in the open like football/men's basketball. I don't know if that's because limited media is following NDWBB or the intent of Niele and staff to keep it close to the vest.
From a selfish point of view, I wish the staff would give us more info - I know they can't comment on recruits publicly - and I guess they have their reasons
... that I'd like to see Niele and Michaela have an interest in. The irony, as Doggie and others have pointed out, is ND might have or might have already checked out a player. Difficult to know.
That said, we've seen 2023 play out in front of us and what we see is probably what ND will get (Donovan, Hidalgo, Prosper, knock on wood). However, I'd look at these folks, too:
- Chloe Kitts, the 6'2" forward from Florida who just played on the USA U-18 team in Argentina. She's come on the last year -- much like Irish commit Emma Risch -- but while they're about the same height, Kitts is known as a forward. And we'll need a heady forward who can shoot in 2023. Why? Maddy Westbeld will be a senior.
- Mary Ashley Groot, 6'2" forward from NYC who was invited to USA trials.
Primarily has an inside game but is getting better. Academics shouldn't be a problem, given she attends the prestigious Dalton School.
These types of forwards are probably dependent on whether a Cassandre Prosper commits to the Irish.
As for 2024.
Centers should be of prime interest, given Kylee Watson and Nat Marshall's eligible years will be winding down. So, would love to see the Irish continue to pursue:
- Kennedy Ume(h), the center who plays for the Philly Rise. Niele is going to Hungary to watch the U-17 USA team that Umeh is on (that also has Jadyn Donovan and Hannah Hidalgo). Good sign. She's a post.
- Blanca Thomas, the 6'5" center from North Carolina, also tried out for USA teams (and didn't make it), but that doesn't mean one should give up on them. Programs are clamoring for her.
- Kate Koval, the 6'5" center from the Ukraine who played for Lutheran High in Long Island. She's solid, moves well and is driven.
Plus...
- Morgan Cheli, the 6'2" guard from Cali who is on that u-17 team, as well. Hope Niele gets a look. However, pulling guards like that out of the Left Coast is tough.
- Allie Ziebell, the 5'10" guard from Wisconsin. ND/Ziebell are on each other's radar and I'd like to see it continue. She can shoot. And she can score. From three. Those extra points help.
Could be wrong though. Still a great list I hope that the coaching staff pulls a surprise recruit like Risch.
Getting a center that year is really essential.
I personally have no problem with Niele keeping things close to the vest.
ND women's basketball does not have a hundred high schoolers to choose from, they have about 20. Of that 20, maybe 15 have no interest in Notre Dame. We are talking only 2 or 3 players per year out of a possible 5. The scale of recruiting in women's basketball, at least if you want to win the championship, is completely different. I like the idea of concentrating on a few good women. The best of the best.
Oftentimes, the recruits we are looking at are not publicity hounds and would prefer that the Notre Dame coaches not reveal every visit, text, or tweet. They like their privacy. Recruit for the recruits, not for the fans. A little patience, and the fans will benefit eventually.
Sure, as many would have it, we could expand our reach to include “safety” or “insurance” players who may not win championships but make us a good also-ran if we fail in our first choices. As I have said before, I dislike the “hope for the best, plan for the worst” strategy. “Plan for the best, consider contingencies”, as I think we’ve agreed upon.
In addition, I’m not wedded to any particular strategy to the exclusion of others. It is a fine line to walk, especially when there are only 5 on the floor (from four years) at any one time. The most important thing is chemistry, and if the coaches feel like a non top 20 recruit can solidify rolls and chemistry, then, by all means, go for it. We have all seen the recruiting raters fail for some players.
But my main reason in deferring to the ND coaches is that they know so much more about the recruits and the intimate details of what would sway them one way or another. Who or who not they might want to play with, and, of course, the all important, playing time to expect. Unless I feel I know a recruit better than the coaches, I’ll be happy to let them deal with recruiting in their own way.
However, I still like to read about speculations regarding possible recruits.
..when I reread your e-mail and mine. However, the one new(er) thought I've added to this was in my initial reply, which is the recent surge in transfer signings means that the extensive work that Niele and Mike have done could have payback, either immediate or down the road. So, doing exhaustive searches and courtships on a few(er) tried and true prospects is perhaps not as high-risk, high-reward as in the past. You can second dibs!
Listen, it would be great to have an occasional picture or entry on Niele, Mike or Coach O visiting a prospect, but we collectively are doing fine piecing it together.
As for "trusting" coaches, heck, that's almost a given unless specifically calling something out and that's generally not in recruiting.
However, when asked for prospects, I'd like to see, well....I'll jump on that platform :-)
Niele has always sets her sights pretty high and ND pretty much demands it from an academic standpoint so the pool is pretty tight to start with. So, it's (somewhat) gratifying to know one can get a second crack. (Just hope it doesn't happen the other way too often!).
I'm eager to see how Kylee Watson does here and very intrigued by Jenna Brown. As you and I have posited, dividends could break out here (knock on wood).
Stay tuned.