Notre Dame Basketball Nuggets: July 2019

Here is what is going on around the Notre Dame Basketball Program (men’s) in July

Basketball is starting to heat up in South Bend, and that means so is the information we can provide our followers. In our June nuggets for Notre Dame Basketball, I focused heavily on the recruiting aspect and I hope that continues to be a big part of our pieces moving forward. For today, we will focus on a key transfer added to the puzzle, some NBA news and dive a little further into the recruiting scene.

Notre Dame Adds Key Transfer

In our June nuggets, I mentioned that Cormac Ryan, former top 100 recruit and Stanford guard, had entered the transfer portal and quickly set up an official visit to Notre Dame. Well, that visit quickly turned into a commitment for the Irish coaching staff, and really helped put out some of the fires around the program. Fans won’t be happy until the team is back to the NCAA tournament and competing at a high level in the ACC, but Ryan certainly helps put the program back on the right track.

He will sit out the 2019 season — due to normal transfer rules —  but when he steps on the court in 2020, the Irish will have a highly skilled and athletic guard added to the mix. Ryan should compete for a starting nod alongside Prentiss Hubb. With Gibbs and Pflueger gone after this year, the door is open for Ryan to prove he is capable — and if his freshman season is any indication, he should definitely get fans excited. Look for him to provide solid depth behind Hubb at point, but also contribute at the 2 spot.

New 2020 Offer Out

Earlier this month, the Notre Dame staff offered PF/C Elijah Taylor out of Philadelphia and instantly joined his top group. He recently came out with a top 6 of Notre Dame, Pitt, Florida, VCU and Providence. Seen as an undersized center, Taylor fits into the Mike Brey mold of big men that work hard down low and compliment the shooters on the roster. It took awhile for Power 5 programs to take notice of Taylor, but he has been impressive this summer in the camp circuit and many schools — including Notre Dame — took notice. Taylor already has a nice physique for a high school athlete, and he plays a solid blue-collar game.

Terrance Williams Inching Closer to a Decision

Ranked as the No. 82 player according to the 247sports.com composite rankings, Williams has also really shined in the summer basketball camp circuit. Out of the same high school as current Irish guard, Prentiss Hubb, Notre Dame is right in the thick of things with Williams — who is expected to choose between Georgetown and Notre Dame in the next few weeks.

Recent reports are that the hometown Hoyas hold the slight edge, but the ND staff is confident on where they stand — so it is really any man’s game as of now. Williams remains a top target for the Irish staff, if not the top target altogether, and it will either be a really big blow or a huge recruiting win once he makes his decision.

Men’s hoops could really use a huge recruiting win right now. It is in Notre Dame’s favor that Hubb and Williams are close friends.

Recapping Summer League

Notre Dame basketball was well represented in the 2019 NBA Summer League with 4 players total on 2 teams. Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell suited up for the Milwaukee Bucks, while Zach Auguste and Demetrius Jackson were on the Portland Trailblazers.

Bonzie Colson — one of the main players on the Bucks roster — played in a total of 5 games averaging 13.2 PPG (high of 22), 5.2 rebounds (high of 7) and shot 45% from the field (72% from the line). All in all an impressive first summer league for Bonzie Colson. Colson, one of the best Notre Dame basketball players in recent memory — probably of all-time — more than deserves a chance to carve out a role in the NBA. He can be compared to players such as Draymond Green and Paul Millsap who have developed very productive NBA careers as undersized 4s. Unfortunately, Colson was waived by the Bucks a few days ago to make room for the signing of Kyle Korver. Here’s to hoping he finds himself on another roster.

Matt Farrell appeared in 4 summer league games after sitting out the first game. He averaged 8 PPG and shot a solid 40% from 3 on 15 attempts. Farrell also dished out 5.5 assists per game. Like Colson, he showed well during the Summer League, but unfortunately that didn’t come with a guaranteed contract for the former Irish point guard. He will likely wind up playing in the G league for the second straight season. He spent last year with the Delaware Blue Coats.

Demetrius Jackson appeared in 5 games for the Blazers this summer. After bouncing around the NBA — mostly seeing time in the G league since being drafted in the 2nd round of 2016 draft — Jackson signed on to play for the Blazers before the summer league began. In just over 15 minutes per game, Jackson averaged 6.2 PPG, 3 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Currently an unrestricted free agent, Jackson will likely find himself back in the G league with the possibility of seeing a little NBA time this upcoming season.

Zach Auguste — after tearing up the summer league last season and ultimately playing overseas in Greece — was back again this season. He’s now with the Blazers. He only appeared in 4 games with Portland, averaging just under 11 minutes per game while shooting 50% from the field. It appears as though Auguste’s NBA chances are behind him, even though he has shown an ability to hang in these types of settings. He is an ultra-athletic big man who is a jack of all trades but a master of none. I thought at one point he’d be given a shot, but he is carving out a nice career overseas.