IRISH RECRUITING UPDATE AS OF APRIL 5, FIRST DAY FOR OFFICIAL VISITS
Greetings Benchers! Time for a Post-NCAA Championship (!) Recruiting Update.
One of the most important things that happened on the recruiting front in March and April was, indeed, the march to -- and winning of -- that National Championship; and, having Arike tell potential recruits on national television that if you want win one yourself, ND is where you come (or something to that effect).
And guess what? Beginning today (the Thursday after the NCAA Championship game), current juniors (Class of 2019) can start taking official visits to college campuses. A prospect is allowed to visit five (5) schools. So feel free to start ticking off how many schools Sam Brunelle, Aliyah Boston, Haley Jones and Laeticia Amihere are visiting.
Given how ND won the Nat’l. Championship, you’d think the Annual Banquet might be a natural time for a visit to ND, so we’ll depend on attendees who frequent this board to be our eyes and ears.
SO, FOR NEWCOMERS (welcome, btw) WE’LL LOOK AT WHERE WE STAND IN THE RECRUITING PROCESS: first examining the positional needs of the Irish; then looking at players who graduate/would come aboard in 2019; and, then give a rundown of players in 2020 and 2021. We’ll list the players’ rankings (Hoopgurlz, Prospects Nation), along with a comment or recent development.
POINT GUARDS
Context
- Lili Thompson has completed her one year of eligibility because she played in more than 30% of her games. And MM also said Mychal Johnson, who was slated to spell Lili this year, will not return.
- Jordan Nixon will join the team as a freshman for the 2018-19 season and will either take over the reins and/or work behind/with some combination of Marina Mabrey or possibly fellow frosh Katlyn Gilbert. Mabrey graduates after that’18-’19 season.
2019 Point Guard Committed to Notre Dame:
- Anaya Peoples (#15 HG, #5 PN), 5’10” PG from Illinois, who plays club ball with 2018 commit, Katlyn Gilbert. Anaya is the first (and only thus far) ND COMMIT of the Class of 2019, as of Summer 2017. Also attended the 10/27-28 unofficial visit of some dozen recruits. Her Schlarman HS Team won the Illinois Class 1A State Title.
- Cannot see any other point guards being recruited for 2019, given ND has Nixon and Peoples.
Class of 2020 Point Guards of Interest
- Caitlin Clarke (#1 in HG, 4 in PN) 5’11” PG from Iowa who played on USA U16 team. Very confident guard in her ability to run a team and look for her own shot.
- Paige Bueckers (#6 in HG, 3 PN), 5’10” guard from Minnesota who was on the same u16 team as Clarke. Athletic, fast and very creative offensively. Can play combo- or off- guard. ND staff saw her play in Minnesota this March.
- Alli Campbell (#19 HG, 20 PN). 6’0” guard from Pa. who led her Bellwood-Antis HS to a state title. Will play for Philly Belles in AAU ball, a program that M. Vaughn and D. Cosgrove also played for.
- Keegan Sullivan (NR in HG, 18 PN), 5’11” from South Bend, Indiana, who is racking up some impressive offers already (S. Carolina, among them).
All but Sullivan attended the 10/27-28/17 Unofficial Group Recruiting Visit. And Sullivan has grown up virtually next to Notre Dame.
Even though all four of these guards are listed as point guards, we’ve seen that ND continues to have interest in most of them, which indicates the staff could be considering them playing multiple guard slots. For instance, Paige Bueckers played off the ball when Clarke manned the point in Argentina. Or other PGs on ND’s roster could be used off-ball, such as Anaya Peoples, who has said she’ll play any position needed. Could offer flexibility in the line-up, as needed.
Class of 2021 Point Guards To Watch
- Ari Wiggins, 5’7” freshman at Heritage Christian, Indianapolis, who already has an offer from Indiana. Interested in ND and has visited with 2018 commit Katlyn Gilbert. Very quick.
GUARDS/WINGS
Context
- After the 2017-18 season, the Irish will lose Mychal Johnson, who has told Coach McGraw she will not be returning.
- In 2018-19, the Irish keep Arike Ogunbowale, Marina Mabrey and Jackie Young , while gaining Katlyn Gilbert (a combo guard who will probably play off the ball) and Abby Prohaska.
At the end of that season, Irish will:
-- lose Ogunbowale and Mabrey; and,
-- have Young, Gilbert and Prohaska, joined by whomever they recruit from the Class of 2019.
Possible 2019 Targets
- Kierstan Bell (#4 HG, 16 PN), 6’1” guard who was named Ms. Basketball in Ohio last school year and allegedly already has an offer from ND.
Has made unofficial visits to ND, Ohio State and Michigan State. Plans on taking official visits to further away-schools, including: Minnesota, Rutgers, North Carolina, South Carolina and UCLA.
- Haley Jones (#5 HG, #14 PN), 6'1" wing from Archbishop Mitty in California. Irish coaching staff apparently attended a showcase there in Sept. 2017 and Coach McGraw flew to see her in early February. Jones has visited South Carolina and Texas. Wing with size who "plays taller than advertised" and "finishes plays in traffic."
- Rickea Jackson (#9 HG, 2 PN), 6’2” wing from Detroit. Slasher who has interest from Michigan, Michigan State, South Carolina, among others.
- Breanna Beal (#10 HG, 10 PN), a 6'1" wing/forward from Rock Island, Ill., who has multiple offers and has expressed admiration for UConn and the academics Stanford offers. ND coaches attended an exhibition.
- Leilani Correa, (#21 by HG, 44 PN), 5’10” guard from Rutgers Prep, NJ. Very athletic, speedy off-guard, similar to Celeste Taylor (see below).
- Michelle Sidor (NR in HG, #21 PN). 5’8” guard from Saddle River, NJ. Energetic, fast, shooting guard who can score from anywhere. Handles ball well and plays good defense. Similar to Katelynn Flaherty of Michigan.
Jones seems to be the current focus of Irish efforts, right now.
2019 Prospects Who Committed Elsewhere
- Sammie Puisis (#13 HG, 29 PN) 6’1” wing/guard from Ohio, who was/had interest in UConn, ND and a slew of other P5 schools..(STATUS: Committed to FLORIDA STATE, as of Labor Day 2017.).
- Diamond Miller (#17 by HG, 36 PN), 6’1” wing from Franklin H.S., NJ who played on USA U16 Team this summer. Versatile athlete who excels on defense and rebounding, in addition to scoring. Took unofficial visit to ND but committed to MARYLAND, citing proximity to NH as one reason.
- Celeste Taylor (#46 by HG, 54 PN), 5’10” guard from Lutheran H.S. in Long Island, who was on USA Basketball’s U16 team. Fast, athletic slasher. Took unofficial visit to ND. Apparently had strong interest, but committed to TEXAS in Fall 2017.
Class of 2020 Players of Interest
- Sydney Parrish, (#7 in HG, 8 PN) 6’1” guard/wing/forward from Hamilton Southeastern, Indiana., who was a semi-finalist for the USA Basketball’s U16 team. Already has offers from virtually all B1G teams.
- Maddie Burke (16 in HG, NR in PN), 5’10” shooting guard from Pennsylvania who is another member of the Philly Belles. Good stroke.
- Madeleine Westbeld (NR in HG, 23 in PN), a 6’2” wing from Ohio who favors the outside game more than her high-post sister, one Katherine.
(Parrish and Burke both attended the 10/27-28/17 unofficial group visit to ND. One would guess Ms. Westbeld knows a bit about ND.)
Class of 2021 Players of Note
- Azzi Fudd (Noted in HG, No ’21 Chart in PN), a 5’11” guard who is starting her freshman year at. St. John’s College in Washington, D.C., same school that Lindsay Allen attended. Youngest player on U.S. team in Argentina. Has scored 30+ points in several HS games, prompting coaching pilgrimages to D.C.
- Matyson Wilke (Noted in HG, No ’21 Chart in PN yet), a 5’9” guard from Beaver Dam. Has come to ND games this season. (Both players attended “Niele-fest” in Fall 2017 and Wilke has come back for a game.)
FORWARDS/POSTS
Context
After this 2017-18 season, the Irish will lose high post Kat Westbeld and low post Koko Nelson. Following the 2018-19 season, they’ll lose Brianna Turner and Jessica Sheppard.
In 2019-20, they’ll have the following posts and forwards: Mikayla Vaughn, Danielle Patterson and Danielle Cosgrove…plus whomever signs on for 2019
Possible 2019 Targets:
- Sam Brunelle (1 HG, 4 PN), 6’2” F/C, Virginia, who is down to 8 schools, including ND. Attended 10/27-28/17 Unofficial Group Visit to ND with other ’19-’20-’21 top prospects.
- Laeticia Amihere, (#2 HG, Not in PN), 6’3” forward from Ontario, Canada. One of the dunkers. ND staff observed her over the summer. Recovering from an ACL injury.
- Aliyah Boston (#11 HG, 16 PN, 6’4” Post from Worcester Academy, MA. Played on U.S. Team in Argentina in 2017 and was named MVP.
- Francesca Belibi (28 HG, 41 PN) A 6’1” athlete from Denver/Cameroon, who is the “other dunker.” Has interest in Stanford, Princeton, Harvard and ND. Also made the USA Basketball U16 Team.
- Sydnee Roby (#40 HG, 91 PN), 6’3” Post from Rufus King HS, Milwaukee, WI. Powerful inside presence who scores & rebounds in double figures.
2019 Prospects Who Committed Elsewhere
- Faith Masonius (53 HG, 76 PN). 6’-footer with nice array of hooks, jump-hooks and spin moves, left and right, who can also go outside to pop the 10-15 footer. Committed to MARYLAND in Jan. 2018.
- Ramani Parker (#58 at HG, 15 PN) 6'4" forward who made ND a finalist. Offensively, can both put ball on floor and drive, as well as shoot 3's. Lock-down defender who is a good weak-side defender. Committed to LOUISVILLE this winter.
Brunelle, Amihere and Boston have all visited/been visited.
2020 Players to Keep An Eye On
- Kylee Watson (Top rated by Blue Star, #2 in HG & 6 PN), Agile 6’4” Post from Mainland HS in NJ who played on USA Basketball’s U16 Team in Argentina. Prospects Nation’s Chris Olson compares her to our own Natalie Achonwa. Was part of 10/27-28/17 Unofficial Group Visit to Notre Dame
- Cameron Brink (#4 HG, 5 PN), a 6’4” stretch forward from Beaverton, Oregon, was a finalist for the U16 USA team this summer. Friend of the Curry family.
- Natalija Marshall (#13 HG, 24 PN), 6’5” center from Christ the King H.S. in Queens, NYC. Attended 10/28/17 Unofficial Group Visit.
- Angel Reese (#11 HG, 16 PN), 6’3” forward who plays for St. Frances Academy in Maryland.
2021 Player To Keep Track Of
- Amari DeBerry (Noted in HG, No ’21 Chart in PN yet), a 6’4” forward starting at Williamsville South H.S. in New York. Well-known on club circuit.