Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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48 NOV. 30, 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BY LOU SOMOGYI S igning a full basketball team at pretty much every position in one recruiting class is seldom possible, but Notre Dame ac- complished that in its 2020 recruiting class. With head coach Muffet McGraw and her staff reduced to six schol- arship players this November, and probably the majority of December — because of injuries and past attri- tion — it is like sensing the impend- ing arrival of a basketball cavalry. "We got scoring, we got size, we got a point guard, we got some three- point shooters," a relieved and elated McGraw stated. "We got a little bit of everything — and we needed a little bit of everything. "They all bring something a little bit different, and all of them are go- ing to be counted on to do something right away." Currently in a rebuilding mode af- ter advancing to seven Final Fours the past nine years, Notre Dame, with the developing youth on the current team combined with the in- coming class next season, could be back into top-10 and national title contention in two years. Three of Notre Dame's double- digit scorers this season — former McDonald's All-American forward Sam Brunelle and guards Katlyn Gil- bert and Anaya Peoples — all have three years of eligibility remaining after this season. Top post player Mi- kayla Vaughn, currently sidelined until about late December with a knee sprain — has two more seasons after this campaign concludes. "We're going to get so much expe- rience this year, and then for them to come in and help us is going to be great," McGraw said. Landing four top-50 prospects from ESPN HoopGurlz in one year, ranked between No. 23 and No. 44, is an achievement less than a handful of schools ever achieve. Here is the outlook and projection of the 2020 recruiting harvest: ALASIA HAYES 5-7, POINT GUARD Murfreesboro, Tenn. Riverdale High Rankings: No. 44 ESPN HoopGurlz, un- ranked by Prospects Nation Facts & Figures: Helped lead Riverdale to Class AAA state titles in 2017 and 2018, and state semis in 2019 … Averaged 13.5 points, 6.8 re- bounds and 3.3 assists as a junior … Older sisters Anastasia and Aislynn play at Middle Tennessee State. Outlook: With current graduate transfer Marta Sniezek out of eligibil- ity after this season, Hayes could con- tribute right away at the point, where the current second option is freshman Anaya Peoples, who is a more natural fit in an off guard or wing role. McGraw: "We have an open spot for a point guard, and we are hopeful that Alasia can fit into that role. She's a terrific defender, a pass-first point guard and a playmaker who is great at making defenders pay for their mistakes." ALLI CAMPBELL 5-11, SHOOTING GUARD Altoona, Pa. Bellwood-Antis High Top 100 Rankings: No. 25 ESPN Hoop- Gurlz, No. 21 Prospects Nation Facts & Figures: Is a two-time 2A state champion, who has starred since her freshman year … The 2019 Miss Pennsylvania Basketball has al- ready scored 2,217 career points … Averaged 29.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per contest as a junior. Outlook: Early playing time will be a challenge, especially if Destinee Walker applies for her eligible extra year, while Gilbert and Peoples also return, although Peoples could move to point. McGraw: "Alli is a great three-point shooter, which is something we are in need of. She can really score, not THE CAVALRY IS COMING The 2020 recruiting haul provides quantity and quality Head coach Muffet McGraw and associate head coach Beth Cunningham hosted three of the incoming 2020 recruits during an official visit at this year's Notre Dame-USC football game in October: left to right in back: Maddy Westbeld, Cunningham, Alli Campbell and Nat Marshall. PHOTO PROVIDED