Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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48 SEPT. 26, 2016 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED MEN'S BASKETBALL BY COREY BODDEN N otre Dame hosted the top target on its board — Rivals four-star forward D.J. Harvey of Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic — during the weekend of the football game against Nevada. He followed up the trip to South Bend with a visit to Ala- bama Sept. 16-18. Sources have indicated the visit to South Bend couldn't have gone much better for the Irish. A few days fol- lowing Harvey's official visit, associ- ate head coach Rod Balanis watched the 6-7, 180-pounder, Rivals' No. 51 overall player nationally, work out at DeMatha. The Irish slated an in- home for shortly after Harvey's trip to Alabama. The Irish also made an in-home visit Sept. 12 with Baltimore Mount St. Joseph four-star guard Darryl Morsell, who took an official visit to Notre Dame just a few days later during the Michigan State football weekend. Morsell was impressed that head coach Mike Brey and two assistant coaches (Balanis and Ryan Ayers) showed up at his home. Notre Dame is making the 6-3 fast-riser, ranked No. 93 overall nationally, a priority. The Irish, who have yet to secure a commitment for the class of 2017 early signing period that begins Nov. 9, have watched their list of top targets continue to dwindle. Washington (D.C.) Maret School three-star center Luka Garza, Rivals' No. 134 player in the country, was scheduled to take an official visit to Notre Dame for the Michigan State game Sept. 17. However, his strong relationship with the Iowa staff, which offered him a full year before the Irish became involved, led Garza to commit to the Hawkeyes during his official visit over the Sept. 10 weekend. Another big man officially elimi- nated the Irish from contention Sept. 15, when Rivals five-star power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. of La Porte (Ind.) La Lumiere committed to Tom Izzo and Michigan State. Jackson — the nations; No. 15 overall prospect according to Rivals — took an unofficial visit to Notre Dame a few weeks earlier, but the Irish never appeared to be a major player in his recruitment. He picked the Spartans over Maryland, George- town (where his father Jaren Jack- son Sr. played) and Purdue. The focus is now on ensuring the 2017 class includes two wing play- ers, which has been priority one for Brey with the pending losses of Steve Vasturia and V.J. Beachem following the 2016-17 season. Notre Dame was also officially eliminated from the recruitment of four-star shooting guard Brandon Randolph of Westtown (Pa.) School. The 2017 prospect, who is rated No. 52 overall nationally by Rivals, narrowed his recruitment down to Arizona, Syracuse, Oregon and Wake Forest. In early May, the Irish made their first offer to a 2018 prospect — Mars (Pa.) High four-star shooting guard Robby Carmody, who is ranked as the No. 90 overall prospect in the country by Rivals. Carmody made his third visit to Notre Dame in less than a year when he visited for the Michigan State football game Sept. 17. The junior doesn't have early lead- ers, but Notre Dame is sitting well in his recruitment that includes Louis- ville, Michigan, Pittsburgh, North- western and Purdue. ✦ 2016-17 NOTRE DAME MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE In 17 seasons at Notre Dame, Mike Brey might encounter potentially his most difficult schedule in 2016‑17. The non‑conference slate includes defend‑ ing national champ Villanova, Iowa, Purdue, Colorado and possibly Texas. Meanwhile, the 18‑game ACC schedule features an eight‑game gauntlet from Jan. 12‑Feb. 4 that begins at Miami and ends at North Carolina. Notre Dame plays exhibition games on Nov. 1 (Mercy College in New York) and Nov. 7 (Catho‑ lic University), before opening Nov. 12. Date Opponent (TV) Time (ET) Nov. 1 Mercy! 7 p.m. Nov. 7 Catholic! 7 p.m. Nov. 12 Bryant 12 p.m. Nov. 16 Seattle 7 p.m. Nov. 18 Loyola (Md.) TBA Nov. 21 vs. Colorado# (ESPN2) TBA Nov. 22 vs. Texas or Northwestern# (ESPN2/U) TBA Nov. 26 Chicago State 2 p.m. Nov. 29 Iowa& (ESPN2) 9 p.m. Dec. 4 North Carolina A&T TBA Dec. 6 IPFW (ESPNU) 9 p.m. Dec. 10 vs. Villanova% (CBS) 12 p.m. Dec. 17 vs. Purdue^ (ESPN2) 2 p.m. Dec. 19 Colgate 7 p.m. Dec. 28 St. Peter's 7 p.m. Dec. 31 at Pittsburgh* (ACCN) 12 or 2 Jan. 4 Louisville* (ACCN) 9 p.m. Jan. 7 Clemson* (ACCN) 3 p.m. Jan. 12 at Miami* (ESPN/2) 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at Virginia Tech* (ACCN) 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at Florida State* (RSN) 7 p.m. Jan. 21 Syracuse* (ESPN/2) 12 p.m. Jan. 24 Virginia* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at Georgia Tech* (ESPNU) 12 p.m. Jan. 30 Duke* (ESPN) 7 p.m. Feb. 4 at North Carolina* (ESPN/2) TBA Feb. 7 Wake Forest* (ESPNEWS) TBA Feb. 11 Florida State* (ESPN/2) 2 p.m. Feb. 14 at Boston College* (ESPNU) 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at NC State* (ESPN/2) 12 p.m. Feb. 26 Georgia Tech* (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m. Mar. 1 Boston College* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Mar. 4 at Louisville* (CBS) 2 p.m. Mar. 7‑11 ACC Tournament$ TBA ! Exhibition; # Legends Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y.; & ACC-Big Ten Challenge; % Never Forget Tribute Classic in Newark, N.J.; ^ Crossroads Classic in In- dianapolis; * ACC game; $ at Brooklyn, N.Y.; ACCN — ACC Network; RSN — Regional Sports Network Rivals rates Harvey — a 6-7, 180-pound small for- ward at Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic — as a four-star prospect and the No. 51 overall player nationally. PHOTO BY RON BAILEY/HOYAREPORT.COM Notre Dame Hopes To Land D.J. Harvey