Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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baseball/basketball player Pat Connaugh- ton, who ended up securing a spot in the starting group midway through last season. Sophomore guard Alex Dragicevich saw the handwriting on the wall at the end of the 2011-12 season and understood that future minutes with the Irish would likely ALEX DRAGICIVECH BOUND FOR BOSTON only decrease. The Glenbrook North (Ill.) product an- nounced on May 12 that he was transfer- ring to Boston College after starting 10 games for ND last season, when he aver- aged 6.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.9 minutes per game. He will be eligible to play for the Eagles in 2013-14 after sitting out a year under NCAA transfer rules. ✦ Irish Extend First 2014 Offer The Notre Dame men's basketball program fired its first shot in the war of 2014 on May 16 when it extended a scholarship offer to Trevon Bluiett, a 6-5 small forward at Indianapolis Park Tudor High. Bluiett entered the summer AAU season boasting a second state championship, increased strength and a lot more notoriety. The shooter has been on Fighting Irish head coach Mike Brey's radar for a year, and now Notre Dame's interest is ing away from doing a lot of interviews at this time. However, 247Sports' Zach Osterman caught up with the rising prospect earlier this month. "I just don't really listen to it [talk about his recruiting situation]," he told reporters after a pool-play game at an official. The Irish offer is the latest in a growing list for Bluiett, who holds invitations from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas State, Purdue, Virginia and Xavier. Texas, Florida, Michigan and Michigan State are also keeping close tabs on the Spiece Indy Heat player. Bluiett could not be reached for comment and, according to his father and Spiece coach Reynardo Bluiett, is shy- presence felt the most, is rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 86 overall player in the class of 2014 by 247Sports. He is also ranked as a four-star recruit and the nation's No. 47 rising junior by Rivals.com, and is listed as a three-star player by Scout.com. Perhaps the most noticeable improvement made by Bluiett over the past year is on the scale, having dedicated a lot AAU tournament in Fort Wayne, Ind. "I just go and do my own thing. I'm just out here trying to get better and trying to win. I'll worry about colleges later." His plan is to make a decision "definitely before Aug. 1 of my senior year." Bluiett, who said Indiana has made its of time to increasing his size and strength as he prepares for his junior year. He's added around 15 pounds and now weighs in around 200. His father claims the biggest strides made aren't the most obvious. "He was having trouble picking his spots," Reynardo Bluiett told 247Sports. "And that's what playing with [five-star future Indiana point guard] Yogi [Ferrell] has taught him, that's what playing under Ed Schilling has taught him — how to be effective and pick the spots. He's always possessed a good game and a good knowledge of the game, but now he's just being a little more aggressive." He was the leading scorer for Park Tudor as a freshman in the 2010-11 state final with 21 points in a 43-42 win over Hammond Noll. Park Tudor rolled to another 2A title this past year with a 79-57 decision over Bowman Academy en route to a 25-2 final record. Bluiett scored a game-high 25 points (10 in the third quarter) and grabbed eight rebounds in the effort. — Wes Morgan JUNE/JULY 2012 98