Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BASKETBALL RECRUITING them to the league, that's definitely a good piece," Hunter said. "I couldn't tell you right now where they'd rank on my list of schools, but they're up there, also because they're always a good school with academics." The 6‑7, 195‑pound four‑star for‑ ward played for Philly Pride on the Under Armour circuit this spring and summer, helping his team to an 8‑4 record by leading them in scoring (14.0 points per game) and rebounding (5.2 boards per contest). Hunter is still scheduling his vis‑ its, so if the Irish want to get him on campus, they'll have to make a strong push. The senior said he hopes to wrap up his recruitment "in the next month or two." His list of top 11 schools includes (in alphabetical order) Alabama, Arizona State, Connecticut, Maryland, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, St. Jo‑ seph's, Southern Methodist, Villanova and Virginia. The Pennsylvania Sportswriters As‑ sociation awarded Hunter Class AA first‑team All‑State honors as a junior after he averaged 20.8 points per game for Friends Central. ✦ NOTES FROM THE RECRUITING TRAIL • According to multiple sources, Notre Dame has joined the recruitment for Mono (Ontario) Orangeville Prep 7-0, 210-pound senior center Thon Maker, a five-star prospect who is considered one of the elite players in his class. Maker is considering a visit to South Bend this fall, per his guardian in a report on SNY.tv. • The Irish were interested in Memphis transfer Austin Nichols, a 6-9 forward that averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game as a sophomore in 2014-15. After the Tigers initially tried to block his list of transfer destinations, Nichols was eventually granted a full release from the school. He elected to transfer to Virginia — one of the programs that were initially blocked by Memphis as a potential landing spot. • Wilbraham (Mass.) and Monson Academy forward Wenyen Gabriel quickly became a high priority target for the Irish following a scholarship offer July 9 — but the 6-9, 200-pound four-star recruit also picked up offers from practically everywhere else this summer. Gabriel trimmed his list to Kentucky, Duke, Maryland, Providence and Connecticut, eliminating Notre Dame from contention. Rivals ranked Gabriel as the No. 80 overall player nationally, but he'll likely gain a bump to five-star status after his play over the summer. • Four-star center James Banks — who holds a Notre Dame offer — is transferring from Mt. Vernon Christian in Stockbridge, Ga., to La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind. The prep school is located only about 45 minutes from Notre Dame's campus. Rivals ranks the 6-10, 230-pounder as the No. 79 overall player nationally. • San Antonio Churchill forward Clevon Brown listed Notre Dame among his top 10 schools, although he does not have a visit date scheduled at this time. The 6-8, 215-pound three-star also lists Auburn, Illinois, Miami, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Rice, Southern Methodist, Texas and Vanderbilt. • Five-star center Jarrett Allen of Austin (Texas) St. Stephen's Episcopal is still being pursued by the Irish, but had not scheduled any visits yet as of mid-August. The 6-10, 215-pound senior is ranked as the No. 17 overall player nationally.