WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
BY LOU SOMOGYI
N
otre Dame is ESPN's and
Sports Illustrated's way-too-
early pick to win the 2017
national title — but for now
the Fighting Irish coaching staff is
attempting to scale other "heights."
One of the main reasons Notre
Dame is a preseason favorite to win
its first national title since 2001 is
the presence of 6-3 junior Brianna
Turner. She was the Gatorade Na-
tional Player of the Year as a 2014
high school recruit, and she has al-
ready earned first- and second-team
All-America notice from several
outlets during her first two years in
South Bend.
However, in both the 2015 and
2016 recruiting efforts, Notre Dame
did not sign a true post player to
complement Turner.
In 2015, Notre Dame inked three
McDonald's All-American guards in
Marina Mabrey, Arike Ogunbowale
and Ali Patberg — and the latter also
was MaxPreps National Player of the
Year.
SEEKING
NEW HEIGHTS
Post players are a prime emphasis
in the 2017 recruiting cycle
Incoming freshman Erin Boley provides some
height at 6-2, but also can play along the perim-
eter.
PHOTO BY ANTHONY BROWN
