Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 23, 2019 45 MEN'S BASKETBALL RECRUITING BY LOU SOMOGYI A fter not signing anyone in the 2019 recruiting cycle, Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey and his staff needed to come up "big" on the 2020 trail. They didn't necessarily succeed in volume during the early signing pe- riod with only two recruits, but they did add size. Inking their National Letters of In- tent were 6-8 forward Elijah Taylor from powerful Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia, and 6-9 forward Matt Zona from Bergen Catholic in Or- adell, N.J. With 6-9 All-ACC candi- date John Mooney graduating after this season, and 6-11 senior Juwan Durham having only one more year of eligibility if he wishes to take it, replacing that size was a priority. The Irish also remained in the hunt for the top "big" figure on their 2020 board — 7-1, 265-pound center Hunter Dickinson from famed Hy- attsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic, where Brey also graduated. Most pro- jections have had Dickinson, Rivals' No. 37 prospect nationally, heading to the University of Michigan. Both Taylor and Zona fit the pro- file of the typical Notre Dame bas- ketball recruit — four- or five-year players who don't necessarily arrive as instant impact or top-100 pros- pects (Mooney was ranked No. 144 overall by Rivals in 2016, and 2017 All-American Bonzie Colson was No. 145 in 2014), but can be molded into productive, effective players as they progress in their career. They also fit the profile off the court. Taylor is described by Brey as "a really gifted student, a creative kid. A degree from this place is important." Zona was interested in Ivy League schools. Rivals rates both as three-star pros- pects, with Taylor the nation's No. 28 center and Zona the No. 32 center. Brey compared Taylor to 2007-11 Fighting Irish front-line starter Ty- rone Nash, who also was 6-8 and a southpaw. He scored 725 points dur- ing his college career and plays pro- fessionally in Germany. "You will see his body, see how he moves and then talk to him and go, 'Oh my gosh, it's Ty Nash again!'" Brey said. "He moves like that, he's a lefty, he's got a great build and just a glowing personality." Especially gratifying to Brey is land- ing a Philadelphia player from the public league, where Taylor has been part of three consecutive Pennsylva- nia 4A state championships. Previous Notre Dame products from Philadel- phia did not come from public leagues, including 2013-17 guard Steve Vasturia (St. Joseph's Prep) and 2004-08 forward Rob Kurz (Penn Charter). Brey offered Taylor on the spot when he saw him compete. With Zona, the interest took a little more time to de- velop, and it was later in the process that more than mid-majors were start- ing to warm to him. Penn State and Rutgers became prime competition. A third-team All-North New Jersey pick last year, Zona led 27-4 Bergen Catholic to the Non-Public A state title, scoring 17 points in the cham- pionship game. Brey views him as perhaps a hybrid of Mooney and 2014-18 center Martin Geben. "He can shoot it for a big guy," Brey said. "He's already about 230 pounds. Both of these kids have great physical frames already. "He's not going to play above the rim — he's not Mooney in that way. He doesn't bounce up there, but he's got great hands, he's good with the ball and he's a big who can shoot it out there. And he's tough. There's a toughness about both of them. "These are two I-95 [corridor] guys that have played high-level basketball throughout their high school careers." No guards were signed this cycle even though Rex Pflueger and T.J. Gibbs depart after this season That's because even after this year Prentiss Hubb and Dane Goodwin both have two years of eligibility remaining, while Robby Carmody and Stanford transfer Cormac Ryan (who started for the Cardinal last season) have three. Ryan underwent hernia surgery, but is slated to begin practicing with the team around Nov. 18. He has to sit this season due to NCAA transfer rules. ✦ Signees Elijah Taylor and Matt Zona provide height and physicality up front 2019-20 SCHOLARSHIP ROSTER Out Of Eligibility After This Season: Forward John Mooney, wing/guard Rex Pflueger and wing/point guard T.J. Gibbs Option To Return For Fifth Year In 2020-21: Center Juwan Durham and wing Nik Djogo Juniors: None Sophomores: Point guard Prentiss Hubb, guards/wings Robby Carmody, Dane Goodwin and Cormac Ryan, forward Nate Laszewski and center Chris Doherty Freshmen: None Note: Ryan, who moved from Stanford to Notre Dame this summer, must sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules. He and Carmody (medically redshirted last year) both will have three years of eligibility remaining once the 2020-21 season begins. Zona, a 6-9 forward, was tabbed as a third-team All-North New Jersey pick after helping Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic to a 27-4 record and the Non-Public A state title. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Taylor, a 6-8 forward, helped Philadelphia I m h o t e p I n s t i t u t e t o t h r e e c o n s e c u t i v e Pennsylvania 4A state championships. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Short On Numbers, But Not On Size