Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2018 49 MEN'S BASKETBALL INJURY UPDATES Sophomore wing D.J. Harvey dis- played promise during his first 19 games in an Irish uniform, averaging 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 18.2 minutes of action. Along the way, he poured in a season-high 17 points against NC State in January. However, Harvey's season was cut short after he suffered a knee injury against Louisville Jan. 16. It was initially thought a few weeks of rest would get him back on the court, but Harvey wound up having microfracture knee surgery late in the season. Harvey's return to action isn't set in stone. "This microfracture is a little bit of a wait and see," head coach Mike Brey said. "He's doing some light stuff on the elliptical right now. His [timeline] could be more October as far as his return. "… I've talked to a couple of peo- ple who've had the procedure, with one being [former Irish point guard] Chris Thomas. He actually told me it took him almost a year and a half to two years to feel that he had his legs all the way back." A medical redshirt for Harvey isn't off the table if he is not ready to play during the early part of the season. While Harvey's injury situation is a little more murky at this stage, incoming freshman guard Prentiss Hubb is nearing a return to game action after missing his senior cam- paign with a torn ACL. "Prentiss is back in our shooting drills," Brey stated. "We won't play him in any of the games down in the Bahamas. I think Sept. 1 he should be full speed and fully ready for official start of practice on Oct. 1. "… Prentiss was released last week to do some more, so we feel good about where he is going to be Sept. 1." FRESHMEN MAKING EARLY IMPRESSION Notre Dame added the nation's No. 18 class this past cycle with four Rivals150 prospects in Gill (N.H.) Northfield Mount Hermon forward Nate Laszewski (No. 56), Mars (Pa.) High guard Robby Carmody (No. 91), Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga guard Prentiss Hubb (No. 99), Upper Arlington (Ohio) High guard Dane Goodwin (No. 110) and Marlborough (Mass.) High forward Chris Doherty (three-star prospect). Head coach Mike Brey was up- lifted by what he has seen from the freshmen before they get their first game action in the Bahamas. "The group as a whole is tough," Brey said. "They've played great competition. They are ready to help as young guys because of their physi- cal and mental toughness. "… Robby gets to the bucket, he finishes above the rim, draws fouls and can really guard. … He's kind of a slashing and physical wing with toughness that is a little more than a typical freshman. We'll need him. "Dane shoots it, moves without the ball and can put it on the floor. He's kind of the whole package offen- sively. We need him to hunt his shot. … Nate is a stretch-four and looking to shoot the ball. Even though he is thin and young — and he's gained about eight pounds already — his physicality in the paint is better than I thought. "Chris is just a bruiser. He is a bull in the paint and has a great nose for the ball rebounding wise. He's a physical kid and already at 240 pounds. He has a body more of a junior and senior. There's a great toughness about him." The Irish staff will keep an open mind and continue to evaluate the freshmen to determine how many or if all of the five wind up contributing this year in the rotation. ✦ 2019 Recruiting Update Notre Dame is searching for its first commit- ment in the 2019 class. With just two available scholarships, adding to the frontcourt remains the priority. La Porte (Ind.) La Lumiere five-star power forward Isaiah Stewart is still considered to be the top target for the Irish. Stewart has Notre Dame in his top 10 along with Duke, Georgetown, Indiana, Louisville, Mich- igan State, Syracuse, Texas, Villanova and Wash- ington. The nation's No. 6 overall player per Rivals plans to cut his list down to five this summer and take official visits. Brey and company shadowed Stewart during the first July evaluation period, attending each of his games. Other frontcourt options include Woodstock (Conn.) Academy four-star power forward Tre Mitchell, whom Rivals ranks as the nation's No. 92 overall player, and Roeland Park (Kan.) Bishop Miege five-star power forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who is the No. 9 overall prospect in the country per Rivals. Both players continue to consider the Irish, but neither has visited South Bend. On the perimeter, the "big fish" is the nation's No. 2 player — Queens (N.Y.) Archbishop Molloy point guard Cole Anthony. The five-star is the son of former NBA player Greg Anthony and keeps it tight-lipped when it comes to his recruitment. Brey and his staff continued to watch Anthony's AAU games this spring and summer, which indicates the staff believes the Irish are at least in the conversation for the elite guard. Glens Falls (N.Y.) High three-star guard Joe Girard, the No. 127 overall player nationally per Rivals, has Notre Dame in his top six along with Boston College, Duke, Michigan, Penn State and Syracuse. Girard has taken just one official visit (Syracuse) and doesn't have a timetable for a decision. A new name on the board is Staten Island (N.Y.) St. Peter three-star small forward Chris Ledlum. The 6-5, 200-pounder was offered by the Irish July 22 and holds additional offers from Florida, Virginia Tech, Illinois, Iowa, Georgia, Boston College, Wake Forest and others. Ledlum has not stated publicly his interest in the Irish, but the nation's No. 136 player nationally per Rivals is a new name to watch for Notre Dame followers. — Corey Bodden La Porte (Ind.) La Lumiere power forward Isaiah Stewart — a five-star talent and Rivals' No. 6 overall prospect in the nation — remains the top 2019 target for the Irish. PHOTO BY JON LOPEZ/COURTESY RIVALS.COM