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Notre Dame Basketball: Top 10 Players Of The Mike Brey Era

By Mychal Hunter

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 19: Bonzie Colson #35 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish plays against the Northeastern Huskies during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Consol Energy Center on March 19, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 19: Bonzie Colson #35 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish plays against the Northeastern Huskies during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Consol Energy Center on March 19, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 22: Bonzie Colson #35 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gestures after draining a three-point shot during the second half at the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 22, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

4. Bonzie Colson, 2014-2018

Number 35 in your programs but more than likely number one in your hearts, Bonzie embodies  everything that is right and true about College Basketball.

A 6’5 front court player blessed with a 7’0 wing span and the desire to be great, Colson will go down as the favorite of many Irish fans.

A player ranked outside of the Top 100 coming into college, Colson was kind of an afterthought as a freshman. There were glimpses that first year though.

In the final four games of the 2014-15 season, Colson averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds. He went on to put up 17 and 5 in an ACC Tournament win against eventual NCAA Champs Duke. In fact, one article called Colson “The Greatest Duke Killer of Our Generation.”

During his sophomore campaign, he averaged roughly 11 and 7 with a block per game. Irish fans knew they had something. Bonzie averaged a double-double his junior year with 17.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He also made himself into a deep threat, making 26 triples on the season in only 60 attempts.

Prior to his senior season, many (myself included) chose him to be the ACC POTY. Everything seemed to be going according to plan, as Colson had nine double-doubles in 14 games and the Irish were 11-3.

His senior season would be derailed by a broken foot on January 2nd, 2018. The injuries piled up for the Irish in 2017-18 and unfortunately we didn’t get to see the proper conclusion to the Bonzie Colson era in South Bend.

Currently Colson is rehabbing the foot in hopes of a productive professional career. He broke the same foot again in the NIT in March. I wouldn’t bet against him.