Notre Dame Freshman Kathryn Westbeld Earning Her Stripes
Somewhat lost in the bright lights surrounding Gatorade Player of the Year Brianna Turner was Kathryn Westbeld. While the Notre Dame freshman didn’t have the press and the following that Turner did – this is a McDonald’s High-School All-American by the way – but some may not have known that. But she’s quickly making a name for herself this season.
Ranked No. 16 in the 2014 class by Blue Star Basketball, her potential was nothing to scoff at. Sometimes in a program such as Notre Dame (six McDonald’s High School All-Americans on the roster), it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle. But Westbeld has used her versatility to carve herself out a place in the rotation, and continues to evolve within Muffet McGraw’s system.
Early on, Westbeld saw her time on the floor sparingly, but made the best of it with solid defense, and a gutsy effort on the boards. McGraw has even likened her game to former Irish standout Becca Bruszewski – not a bad comparison at all.
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With each passing game, she seems to be gaining confidence, becoming more comfortable on the floor. What began as fighting for rebounds and loose balls has turned into a complete performance off the bench. In a game against Virginia Tech, she exploded for a career-high 17 points.
"“I’ve just been trying to get better every game,” Westbeld said. “I’ve been looking to score more. That’s the biggest thing I’ve been working on. I came out ready and looking to score. My teammates found me really well, especially in their zone. I happened to be open a lot on the block.”"
To anyone that knows her, the success isn’t a surprise. The four-time All-State selection didn’t necessarily grab the headlines coming into Notre Dame. But she’s making them while she’s here.
The Irish are only getting stronger down the stretch, and with Westbeld elevating her game seemingly every time she hits the floor, it’s hard not to be excited about their chances to make their fifth-straight appearance in the Final Four.