Several denizens of McGraw's Bench have been wondering if there are any bigs (posts, forwards) available for the upcoming 2019-20 season. The general consensus is that most graduate transfer have thus far been exhausted (I guess one could still announce...).
A crapshoot might be that a regular transfer comes to ND and is granted immediate eligibility. That might be the chance with Sedona Prince, the very tall post who entered the transfer portal from University of Texas. It's been noted that several coaches reacted to Prince's announcement on twiter, but the only coach Prince chose to respond to was one Niele Ivey. So that's a (possible) good sign. However, let's see where all this goes. One other aspect to continue is how has Prince recovered from her broken leg? She cited "medical reasons" for leaving: is that an indication she's having trouble or something of a ploy to use for immediate eligibility?
So, Prince aside (for the moment), it would look like the best opportunity for another big is to add one to the Class of 2020, joining 6'5" Nat Marshall. Those two would, in turn, join 6'3" Mik Vaughn and 6'4" Danielle Cosgrove.
Just for the heck of it, I went to Hoopgurlz (HG) and Prospects Nation (PN) to look at some uncommitted prospects. And in two instances, I went out of the lists. When feasible, I did a scan of twitter accounts to see if it showed anything.
So here's a list of uncommitted 2020 bigs. I have absolutely no idea if ND is looking at any of them. But several schools are...
- Kamilla Cardoso (HG 5, PN 5), 6'5" Post from Brazil, living in Tennessee.
Tall, athletic, still raw around the edges. Rumored to be looking at SEC teams, but UConn board is also keen. (Seems to have a protected twitter account)
- Dalayah Daniels (HG 15, PN 15), 6'4" forward from Seattle, WA. Forward with the proverbial guard skills and is looking for a coach/system that can let that show. Has also been with different HS coaches every year so looking for stability. Louisville had a home visit with her. Feels like a Nat Marshall type of skill set, so might look for more complementary player. (Another protected twitter account).
- Cameron Williams (HG 26, PN 65) 6'2" Post who helped lead Whitney Young to the Chicago City Championship. She's a lefty who usually goes face-up, but also has a growing "back to the basket" game, according to HG's Olson. (Retweeted MM's statement on Women's oppotunities. Has posted offers from Penn State, Texas Tech and UVA.)
- De'Yona Gaston (HG 34, PN 18), a 6'2" forward from Pearland, Texas. If that sounds familiar, its Brianna Turner's hometown. Gaston's write-ups sound familiar: tall, athletic, good rebounder, runs the floor well. (No insights into colleges that I could see, but retweeted Sedona Prince's decision.)
- Sakima Walker (HG 53, PN ), 6'4" center from Columbus Africentric HS who played with Jordon Horston. Supposedely very good athlete who is just tapping the surface offensively. (Scan of twitter sees offeres from James Madison, Xavier, West Virginia and Minnesota.)
- Jayla Kelly (#99 in HG), a 6'3" Post from St. Louis, MO. Has been referenced in conjunction with ND awhile ago, but not much seen since. Rugged rebounder and defender in the paint. (According to twitter, has has had home visits from Missouri, Purdue, Vanderbilt, St. Louis. Had home visit from and took OV to Northwestern.
Unofficials to to Louisville, Kansas State and Oklahoma. So ratings don't seem to keep D1 coaches from being interested.)
Not rated, but known....
- Erika Porter, 6'3" forward from Notre Dame High School in New Jersey. Is also playing with Exodus NYC, AAU team of Nat Marshall and Destiny Adams, a hot 2021 prospect from the Shore. Porter comes highly rated by "Tiny" Green, longtime purveyor of Girls Hoops on the Jersey Shore. He's made Porter an "unofficial" shore player, which is a big kudo.
I was on roadtrip this afternoon and during my wing-man shift, looked at the rating sites. Who knows what MM, Niele and staff have in mind: Hopefully, a vist from Prince is on the docket. But outside of that, there are other talented posts to possibly come aboard in 2020. Any further input is appreciated, as usual.