Hey everyone:
I've edited the Recruiting Report, as you can see below the dotted line and in its entirety "above the fold." A few points on this report:
- The primary focus is still on high-school prospects. However, given the preponderance of the transfer market (both ingoing and outgoing), I try to factor in how it could affect HS recruiting, which still is the bedrock of building the roster.
- As such, you'll see Desiree Walker. Given that nothing beyond a father's social-media post has come out on this, it's hard to ascertain how many years she'll eligible for once here.
- With her verbal commitment to UConn on April 1st (seems appropriate, no?), Paige Bueckers is no longer on the actively pursued list. Caitlin Clark and Deja Kelly look to be the top HS point guard prospects.
- High school juniors can now take official visits (the college pays for the trip) to up to five schools.
-- Forward/post Natalija Marshall wasted no time when she and her parents came to ND. Wish the weather was better, but luckily she's from a northern city (NYC).
-- Forward/post Kylee Watson is on record for wanting to take OV's in spring and make a decision by end of HS school year. Will ND be one of her five visits?
- The NCAA is primarily in a QUIET period until early July, but there are a few EVALUATION periods, primarily for coaches to attend major tournaments where they can see a range of prospects.
- I update this report on a continual basis, from Hoopgurlz and Prospects Nation rankings to prospects' heights and/or status (Beckers, Parrish). This is intended as a resource!
- Thanks to any and all for contributing information. Greatly appreciated.
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April Greetings, Benchers:
Welcome to the first post-2018-19 season edition of the ND Women's Basketball Recruiting Update. This will primarily focus on the team's efforts to get to know and land high-school prospects in the Class of 2020, but will also examine players who graduate from high school in 2021 and, in some instances, 2022. And given the growing trend of transfers, we'll indicate how and which transfers might impact the overall squad and recruiting.
This update is prepared in long-form. For those who prefer this information graphically, there's Baba Ghanouj’s chart, which is attached via a link. You can (also) print his chart out and use while reading along. Scroll down and see below in the HTTP Link area.
For those new to the Bench and/or the update, our intents:
- This update is brought up to speed, altered, etc. To do that ...
- We rely on input from Benchers, publications, blogs and outside information; even posters from other sites. We try to verify claims, so it does not become a rumor board (pictures help). However, we're open to gleaning information from various media down to "I saw this coach/player at this game...."
- We try to include up-to-date ratings of Hoopgurlz and Prospects Nation. If I'm off, just drop a note that I've missed an HG or PN redo.
- Same goes for recent developments and heights (assuming growth!). We tend to use national team listings and/or local descriptions.
WHAT RECRUITING PERIOD IS THE NCAA IN? WHAT CAN COACHES DO?
Until July 5th, The NCAA WBB is primarily in a QUIET period, during which a college coach may have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents on the college's campus. A coach may not watch student-athletes compete (unless on their college campus) or visit their high schools. They may write telephone student-athletes or their parents.
There are three EVALUATION periods interspersed during this period, during which coaches may watch college-bound student-athletes compete. However, they can't have face-to-face contact off the college's campus.
These evaluation periods are:
- April 19-23: Scholastic events only
- April 26-28: Non-scholastic events only (AAU Invitationals, primarily)
- May 17-19: Non-scholastic events only (AAU Invitationals, primarily)
There is also a DEAD period between May 6-12, which allows for phone calls only. (And probably allows coaches to have some kind of time off....)
High School Juniors can also now take official visits (OV's) to college campuses (this started just after the NCAA Championship Game). OV's are paid for by the college and an athlete can take up to five of them. ND's first visitor was post/forward Natalija Marshall from NYC.
OVERALL LOOK AT PERSONNEL
- According to her father, North Carolina's Destinee Walker has committed to the Irish. The 5'10" guard played two seasons at UNC before suffering injuries that have kept her out since then. She can play immediately (2019-20). Her father says she has two years of eligibility, but NCAA posts say you need to play four seasons in 5 years. So, Walker would have to petition the NCAA for a sixth year to play her senior season. Will she? Or, has that rule changed? Stay tuned.
- Including current players, the two 2019 signees and the one 2020 commit (but no non-scholarship players), the projected number of scholarship players on the WBB squad for the start of the 2020 season now stands at nine (9) players, possibly ten (10) if Destinee has a second year. (Check with Baba's chart to see who they are and how long/when they'll be here.) Muffet McGraw.
- There could be further transfers. We'll adjust accordingly.
- Muffet prefers to carry some 11-12 players on the roster, so that higher number is used as a baseline.
- Many of the 2020 prospects we'll mention were present with Anaya Peoples, Sam Brunelle and Alli Campbell at the 2017 fall mass recruiting event (Nielefest/Recruitapalooza). It will be interesting to follow through on where those attendees end up attending college.
Dillon's Druthers:
- Based on the "12" target number, MM could recruit up to a total of four (4) 2020 prospects, if she gets the right people (can't emphasize that enough). Assuming verbal commit Alli Campbell honors her pledge, that leaves room for three (3) more in this class. If Destinee stays, two (2) or three (3), given that Walker would be gone the following year.
Campbell is now regarded as an off guard, possibly a wing, so:
- point guard is a natural target;
- post/big forward is another; and,
- here's the interesting one: Since Haley Jones went to Stanford, do the Irish pursue a wing? Or, if Campbell keeps growing, is there some flexibility here to possibly take another "best available guard?"
With that in mind, let's take a look at the team, by position.
POINT GUARDS/GUARDS
Context
In Fall 2020, Jordan Nixon will be a junior, with perhaps one full year as the starting point guard behind her. It remains to be seen who will back her up in 2019-2020, but it's pretty clear that the Irish brain-trust will be looking for a point guard.
Class of 2020 Point Guards of Interest:
- Caitlin Clark (#4 in HG, 6 in PN) 6’0” PG from Iowa who played on USA U16 team. Very confident in her ability to run a team, yet look for her own shot. Unofficially visited Oregon and Oregon State during '18 summer. Iowa schools, of course, have strong interest. MM visited Dowling HS in Iowa twice last season.
- Deja Kelly (#22 in HG, #50 in PN) 5'8" guard from Texas who initially committed to Texas in 7th grade(!), but reopened her search and attended the UConn game on an unofficial visit. HG's Dan Olson writes that Kelly "...manufactures, delivers off the dribble with smooth delivery in mid-range game; knocks down the jumper at the arc; savvy floor leader." MM, Niele had a home visit with her on March 4th.
Other 2020 Point Guards:
- Keegan Sullivan (NR in HG, 24 PN), 6’0” from South Bend, Indiana, who has several D1 offers/interest (S. Carolina, DePaul, etc.). Made several cuts at U.S. National Team U17 trials. Played at USJN Nat'l. Championships and got shout-out from Mark Lewis of Blue Star Media. Probably not in contention for ND, but worth keeping a local favorite on the board.
While Clark and Kelly are listed as point guards, ND continues to have interest in both of them, which, perhaps, indicates ND's staff could be considering one of them as an off- or combo guard. This approach offers flexibility in both recruiting and, down the line, game match-ups.
Dillon's druthers:
- This is the glamour position of the 2020 recruiting class, from Paige Bueckers and Clark to Hailey Van Lith and Sarah Andrews. The Irish will undoubtedly make it a recruiting priority. Many schools are after these and other top point guards so it's smart to have options (Plan B).
- There must be “mutual Interest” between Kelly and ND if the Irish flew on a chartered jet to Texas to meet with Ms. Kelly and her mom. With Bueckers at UConn and the competition for Clark extremely fierce, Kelly very much looks to be an option.
2020 Point Guards Who Went Elsewhere:
- Paige Bueckers (#1 in HoopGurlz (HG), #1 Prospects Nation (PN)), 5’11” guard from Minnesota. Athletic, fast, technically proficient and very creative offensively. Scores or passes off the drive. Can play PG, off- or combo- guard. Played on gold-medal-winning U.S. Nat'l. U17 team in July and 3x3 team in late summer. AS OF APRIL 1ST, Bueckers committed to UCONN.
Class of 2021 Point Guards To Watch:
- Arina (Ari) Wiggins, (HG #23, #6 PN) 5’8” sophomore at Heritage Christian, Indianapolis, who already has an offer from Indiana. Very quick. Attended USJN Championships in Washington, D.C. and was cited by Jason Key, Premier Basketball Report & The Jukes Report. Continues to attend ND home games.
- Taylor Bigby, (NR in HG, #15 in PN) 5'11" soph at Centennial H.S. in Las Vegas, Nevada. While playing AAU Ball for Cal Sparks, ND coaches apparently checked her out at a Nike event. Louisville and others have offered. Her HS team recently won a Nevada state title.
GUARD/WING
Context:
Abby Prohaska, combo guard Katlyn Gilbert and incoming 2019 guard Anaya Peoples will be on board when practice starts. While many see Sam Brunelle as a Kat Westbeld-type high post, it's worth seeing how the Irish employ her in 2019-20 (Play offense as wing, part of the "three (3) back line" in a "2-3" zone on defense.) And Destinee Walker could (still) be a member of the squad, come Fall 2020.
2020 Player Committed to the Irish:
- Allison (Alli) Campbell (#24 HG, 26 PN). 6’1” guard whose Bellwood-Antis HS won 2018 & '19 state titles in Pa. Made final 18 of National u17 trial. Played for Philly Belles in AAU ball and was cited as a key performer at Annual USJN Ntl. Championships by Jason Key of Premier Basketball Report & The Jukes Report. As of Sept. 13, 2018: COMMITTED TO NOTRE DAME. Current thought is Alli will play off guard and possibly wing, if she continues to grow. MM & Beth Morgan Cunningham went to see Ali play during HS season.
Class of 2020 Players of Interest:
- Priscilla Williams (#16 HG, #8 PN). 6'2" wing from Katy, Texas, now in Branson, Missouri (dad's job switch). Very athletic, dynamic tall guard who has offers from all over that region. ND took a look late in the game. Have not heard/seen much during Irish season.
- Madeleine (Maddy) Westbeld (45 in HG, 23 in PN), 6’2” wing from Ohio who favors outside game more than Kat, her high-post sister. Made cut to 45 at U.S. Nat'l. U17 trials. Played at Annual USJN Ntl. Championships, getting a shout-out from Mark Lewis of Blue Star Media. Attended UConn-ND game.
- Madison Hayes, (#50 in HG, 54 in PN) 6-0 G/W from East Hamilton HS, Ooltewah, TN. Relatively new to the mix who is averaging 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.4 blocks and 3.1 steals. She has two dozen offers, primarily from ACC and SEC schools. Her TGB team won the gold medal at the recent 3x3 U18 Trials in Colorado, upsetting Sam Brunelle's team in the final.
- Maddie Burke (NR in HG, 39 in PN), 6’0” shooting guard from Pennsylvania who is another member of the Philly Belles. Good outside stroke. Not connected to ND in awhile.
(2020's Campbell, Parrish and Burke and 2021's Fudd and Wilke all attended the 10/27-28/17 unofficial group visit.)
2020 Guard/Wing Prospects Who Will Go Elsewhere:
- Sydney Parrish, (#11 in HG, 19 PN) 6’2” wing/forward from Hamilton Southeastern, Indiana. Was a semi-finalist for the USA Basketball’s U16 and U17 teams. Played at Annual USJN Nat'l. Championships and got a shout-out from Mark Lewis of Blue Star Media. Has not been mentioned in regards to ND, so no surprise when her Top 7 didn’t include ND. As of April 15th, VERBALLY COMMITTED TO OREGON.
Dillon's druthers:
There are a number of guards and multi-positioners (Brunelle-Patterson) at ND already, Campbell is coming (and growing) and look who's available in 2021 (Fudd). Do you still go after a true wing, such as Maddy Westbeld? Or just take another best-available guard, whether they be in H.S. or a college transfer (Evina Westbrook, if she plays off guard or wing?)
Class of 2021 Players of Note:
- Azzi Fudd (#1 HG, #1 on PN), a 5’11” guard who is in her sophomore year at. St. John’s College in Washington, D.C., the same school that Lindsay Allen attended.
-- Youngest player on the U.S. teams in Argentina and Europe.
-- Has scored 30+ points multiple times, prompting coaching pilgrimages to D.C.
-- She and Cameron Brink became first women to attend Stephen Curry's Summer Camp. Won the three-point shoot-around.
-- Could be that she's just a good friend, but attended Brunelle's announcement in April and wore an ND T-Shirt. Played with Brunelle on Fairfax AAU team and U.S. Nat'l. U16 and U17 teams.
-- Attended UConn-ND game in Dec. 2018, as did Brunelle and Paige Bueckers. MM and Niele Ivey attended her SJC vs. Christ the King HS game in D.C. on Dec. 8th.
– Won Naismith Award for best HS player of 2018-19, as a sophomore.
- Matyson Wilke (Not ranked in HG, PN Top 25 Lists, but is listed as #9 HG guard), a 5’9” guard from Beaver Dam, Wisc. Attended ND games last season. HG's Olson: "elevates on jumper, manufactures, delivers to the arc; a consistent jump shooter."
- Sonia Citron, (Unranked in HG, PN) 6'1" Guard/Wing from Ursuline Academy, NY and Hudson Valley Elite 16 Gold. Will hit the three off the jab…Comfortable handling the ball to score off the bounce. According to tweets, ND, UConn, Maryland know about her. Syracuse allegedly has offered a scholarship. Had excellent HS season, playing against UConn signee Aubrey Griffin in New York state playoffs.
- Sydney Affolter, 5'10" guard who plays for Marist H.S. in Chicago. Strong, sturdy build for sophomore. Drives to hoop, plays defense and has a quick 3-pt. release. Has offer from Illinois.
Class of 2022
- Camille Jackson, 5'8" Guard from Butler College Prep, Chicago. Ranked 3rd in Class by Blue Star. HG's Olson's description reads like a young Arike: "Athletic guard manufactures, rises on jumper in mid-range game; college-ready frame, rebounds at the guard position effectively, attacks in up-tempo; 3-point game opportunist." Attended ND-Louisville game.
FORWARDS/POSTS
Context
- In 2020-21, the Irish will have the following posts and forwards: Dani Patterson, Mikayla Vaughn, Danielle Cosgrove and Sam Brunelle.
2020 Players to Keep An Eye On:
- Natalija Marshall (#12 HG, 16 PN), 6’5” forward from Christ the King H.S. in Queens, NYC. Attended Oct. '17 Unofficial Group Visit. Made several cuts at recent U.S. National U17 trials. Finalists: ND, Duke, Stanford, UConn, Texas, Tennessee, UCLA, Syracuse, South Carolina and Michigan. Really can't see Stanford (now that Ashten Prechtel and Cameron Brink have signed/committed) or South Carolina (with Boston/Amihere).
-- MM and Niele Ivey attended her Christ-the-King HS vs St. John's College (Azzi Fudd) in D.C
– Niele was in NYC recently and thought to have seen another CTK game
- ND had home visit with Nat Marshall (NM) on March 11 (confirmed by NM)
– Marshall has said she will take her Official Visits in April (citing ND and Stanford) and then make her mind up by late May. She did, indeed, visit ND with her parents in mid-April.
- Kylee Watson (#30 in HG & 17 PN), Agile 6’3” (and a tinge) Post from Mainland HS in NJ who played on USA Basketball’s U16 Team. Prospects Nation’s Chris Olson compares her to ND alum Natalie Achonwa. Was part of Oct. '17 Unofficial Group Visit. Did not make finalist cut at U17 Trials. - "Mutual Interest" talk with ND had seemingly slowed down but ND has seen Watson at Philly Belles games and open workout. Watson was a "bi-coastal" unofficial visiter, having been to Duke, Oregon and UCLA, among other places.
-- MM attended a scrimmage of Watson's Mainland HS team in December '18
-- Watson led Mainland HS to first NJ state sectional title ever in March
– - Like Marshall, Watson intends to take OV’s in the spring and make a decision before the summer.
- Jayla Kelly (NR in HG or PN), 6'3" Post from Parkway Central HS (St. Louis metro area), Missouri. Averaged averaged 11 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game sophomore season. Athletic post who supplies defensive and rebounding presence. Attended Lehigh game at ND on Dec. 30, 2018.
Current Player in the Transfer Portal Who Could Play Into This:
- Sydney Cooks, a 6'4" forward/post who was a top 5 prospect coming out of high school. She played two years at Michigan State. Although hampered by nagging injuries her sophomore season, she had an excellent first two rounds of the 2019 tournament in South Bend, scoring 21 points against Central Michigan and 17 against ND, while collecting 12 rebounds. Also scrimmaged against ND before the season, so Irish coaches have a good idea of her talent.
2020 Posts/Forwards Of Note Who Will Head Elsewhere
- Cameron Brink (#2 HG, 3 PN), a 6’4” stretch forward from Beaverton, Oregon, who led team to state championship. Just played on the U.S. National U17 Team. Rail thin, but mixes it up. As of Oct. 28, 2018: COMMITTED TO STANFORD.
- Angel Reese (#5 HG, 6 PN), 6’2” forward who plays for St. Frances Academy in Maryland. Was a finalist at U17 Trials this spring. Reese announced 10 finalists: Baylor, UCLA, Louisville, Maryland, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
- Hannah Gusters (#7 HG, 7 PN), a 6'5" center from DeSoto, Texas. Was a finalist at U.S. Nat'l. U17 Trials. In August 2018 listed a Final 12 list that didn't include ND. Gusters took an "unofficial" to UConn and apparently left with an offer.
Dillon's druthers:
MM & Niele have visited Marshall and/or Watson this year. Have to think they're the natural post/forwards of interest. Marshall is one tall drink of water, with range. Would need to bulk up in college. Watson is solid and has that Philly Belle background, which MM likes.
2021 Players To Keep Track Of:
- Amari DeBerry (#2 in HG, #2 in PN), a 6’5” forward starting at Williamsville South H.S. in New York. Another Blue Belle player. Made several cuts at U.S. National U17 Team trials. ND recently visited HS open gym. UConn has reportedly already offered and is constant visitor.
- Destiny Adams (NR in HG, #13 in PN) 6-3' forward from Jersey Warriors Basketball Club. Had to get a Jersey girl in here! "USJN-April 2018: Athletic face-up-4 with off-the-charts potential; rebounds, handles and finishes plays coast-to-coast; superior length, wingspan, defends all 5 positions on the floor; knocks down the jumper to the arc; rebounds, outlets, executes in transition game; stretch-4 game with guard skills." (Dan Olson)
-- Dillon's druthers: I saw her play and she reminds me of Stewie in that, while she's playing against others and interacting with friend and foe, she's kind in her own world, enjoying it. A bit otherworldly.
2022 Player To Keep Track Of:
- Maya Nnaji, 6'1' forward from Hopkins, Minnesota, who plays on the same high school as Paige Bueckers. Hoopgurlz describes her as a "Faceup-4 prospect with college-ready frame (who) brings offensive game attack to the arc...)" Brother will be a D-1 hoopster. Great genes.
- Ayanna Patterson, 6'3" center from Homestead H.S. in Ft. Wayne. Has dunked in high school practice and currently averages 12.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game in her first year of varsity basketball. Already has offers from multiple D1 schools, including B1G. ND has shown interest.
- Mila Reynolds, 6'2" forward from Washington H.S. in South Bend, alma mater of one Skylar Diggins. This freshman, who already has an offer from DePaul, is a regular at ND home games and is often seen on campus.