Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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ors at this year 's McDonald's High School All-America Game (an award Turner won last year). • Arike Ogunbowale, the three- time reigning Wisconsin High School Player of the Year. Next season the Irish might be clas- sified "a year away" again because it will be Stewart's final season at UConn, whereas Notre Dame's top figures will not be seniors. This in- cludes juniors Lindsay Allen and Taya Reimer at point guard and forward, respectively, while Turner returns in the post. Allen and Turner were both AP hon- orable mention All-Americans, with Allen also receiving Most Outstanding Player honors in the Oklahoma City Regional. Turner was this year's ACC Freshman of the Year. Reimer was the team's most consistent and improved played over the last two months of the season, per McGraw. There are never guarantees for a re- turn to the Final Four, but McGraw and Co., have established an infra- structure that should remain powerful in years to come. ✦ Jewell Loyd Selected No. 1 On April 16, Jewell Loyd became Notre Dame's first No. 1 overall pick by a professional organization (Seattle Storm) since defensive end Walt Patulski by the NFL's Buffalo Bills in 1972. The year prior, Fighting Irish guard Austin Carr was selected No. 1 overall by the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. Notre Dame's previous highest WNBA draft choice was No. 3, shared by three players: Devereaux Peters (2012, Minnesota), Skylar Diggins (2013, Tulsa) and Kayla McBride (2014, San Antonio). The Irish also became the first school in the 19-year history of the WNBA Draft to produce draft lottery (or equivalent top-four) picks in four consecutive years — surpassing Connecticut, which had a three-year run of top-four choices from 2009-11. Loyd told the Associated Press her decision was well thought out with her family. Older brother Jarryd, who played basketball at Valparaiso University from 2004-08 and professionally overseas, purportedly had a huge influence in her decision. Reports indicated that while Loyd will make just less than $50,000 in the WNBA (the season begins in June) she could make a few hundred thousand dollars playing overseas later this season. "She's like another mother to me and she was clearly disappointed, but she gave me a hug," Loyd told the AP when asked how Irish head coach Muffet McGraw responded to her decision to turn pro early, while adding that her teammates also were supportive and "have my back." Loyd also told ESPN she will definitely complete her degree. "I think everything heals with time," she said. "I love Notre Dame, I'm Irish 'til the day that I die." — Lou Somogyi MaxPreps National High School Player of the Year and Indiana Miss Basketball Ali Patberg is part of Notre Dame's incoming freshman class. PHOTO COURTESY COLUMBUS REPUBLIC