Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 14, 2024 49 BY TODD D. BURLAGE A s a budding grade-school soccer star, KK Baffour faced a difficult de- cision and a life-changing opportunity few pre-teens and their families would ever need to consider. One of the top adolescent "football" players in the West African country of Ghana, Baffour needed to leave his fam- ily and relocate about six hours away to attend the Right to Dream Academy if he was going to accelerate his soccer dreams. At the academy, the current Notre Dame junior would attend school, prac- tice and develop his soccer skills, and set a course to the future professional pursuits he was already working toward. So, at about the age of 11, and with his parents' blessing, Baffour made his relocation decision, a choice that forced him to grow up fast, and that put into motion a 6,000-mile journey to Notre Dame about five years up the line. "Moving away from home, [to at- tend Right to Dream] set an example for me to get used to the separation with my family before I even came to Notre Dame," Baffour said, in retrospect. "So, the relocation wasn't as difficult as you might think when I came to college." Upon graduation from the academy as a 14-year-old, Baffour faced another life-changing decision. Should he focus all of his attention on soccer and head directly into the profes- sional ranks? Or, should he re-relocate to attend high school and play soccer in the United States? Baffour chose the latter and accepted a scholarship to spend his high school years at the Taft School, an elite private boarding academy and soccer power in Watertown, Conn. Baffour was welcomed into The States by a host family in Connecticut, which he remains very tight with, and holds close to his heart. In fact, in the rare event that he gets time away from the Notre Dame cam- pus, it's more practical for Kelvin Kyei Baffour to spend his off time in Con- necticut than it is back in Ghana, though he did get a chance to visit his parents back in Africa for two weeks last year. "I still get a lot of love from my host family, and I am still very close with my high school coach back in Connecticut," Baffour said. "So, I have a terrific sup- port system in place here [in America] that still helps me a lot." During his four years at Taft, the gifted midfielder steadily improved. And as a senior, Baffour became the 2021-22 Gatorade Connecticut Boys Soccer Player of the Year after he re- corded 24 goals and 16 assists. Baffour was also a standout sprinter for the Taft track and field team. As one of the best prep players in the country, Baffour could have taken his talents to about any college. But a combination of great soccer and top- notch academics pulled the pride of Taft School to his new school. WELCOME TO NOTRE DAME Baffour arrived on campus as a fresh- man in the summer of 2022 carrying lofty personal and program expectations. Notre Dame had made the NCAA Tour- nament in nine of the previous 10 seasons, and was only one year removed from an appearance in the College Cup Final Four. Shockingly, the Irish went only 8-7-2 during Baffour's freshman season, fin- ished fifth in the six-team ACC Coastal Division, and missed the NCAA Tourna- ment for only the second time in 21 years. Now a team leader, Baffour still calls his rookie season a wake-up call for the entire program. "Not having a very good year, not making the NCAA Tournament after coming in with such high expectations, I think it helped us refocus and set us up for great things to come," he said. Indeed it did. As a sophomore last season, Baffour tied for the team lead with 7 assists. He also added 2 goals and finished fourth on the Irish with 11 total points, all while helping Notre Dame to a national run- ner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament. "Through all the highs and lows, I feel like I've kind of seen it all the last two years. I feel a lot more comfortable," Baf- four said. "I'm a junior now, so it feels like I have been around the block a little bit more than many of my teammates." One of the favorites to return to the Col- lege Cup again this season, Notre Dame entered this season ranked No. 2 in the country and with a bevy of talent returning from the NCAA runner-up run last year, including one young man who's a long way from home, but feeling right at home. "When it comes to my game, creativity is my biggest thing, making things hap- pen out of nothing," Baffour said. "Often times, that comes with trying and failing. But it's all about risk taking and trying to make plays to help the team." ✦ Irish Roundup CROSS COUNTRY The Irish women finished first and the men came in second in the season opening Cru- sader Invite Aug. 30 in Valparaiso, Ind. MEN'S SOCCER (0-0-2 OVERALL, 0-0 ACC) Traveled to Louisville, Ky., to take on the Car- dinals after a pair of draws to open the season. WOMEN'S SOCCER (5-1 OVERALL, 0-0 ACC) Edged Butler 1-0 Sept. 1 in Indianapolis … Defeated Northern Illinois 4-0 Sept. 5 in South Bend. VOLLEYBALL (2-0 OVERALL, 0-0 ACC) Opened the season with a pair of wins at the Catholic Challenge Aug. 31 at Santa Clara, Calif., topping Villanova (3-0) and Santa Clara (3-1) … Was set to face Michigan and Mississippi State Sept. 7-8 in Starkville, Miss. KK Baffour Right At Home, Far From Home Last season, Baffour tied for the Irish lead in assists (7) and was fourth in points (11) while helping the men's soccer team finish as the national runner-up. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS N O T R E D A M E S P O R T S