Notre Dame basketball: Blake Wesley continues to rise in recent mock drafts
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame basketball team could have a one-and-done player on their roster, as Blake Wesley continues to rise up mock drafts.
The Notre Dame basketball team has seen their season trend in the right direction since true freshman Blake Wesley was inserted into the starting lineup. The South Bend native, who has a house less than ten minutes from campus, has taken the program by storm, leading them to a likely return to the NCAA Touanrmanet for the first time in years.
Unfortunately for the Irish, Wesley dominating as a true freshman could lead to him leaving after one season with the program. He has started to generate legitimate draft buzz, and many feel there is no way he falls out of the first round, especially in what is considered a pretty weak draft class.
In a recent 2022 NBA Mock Draft over at SirCharlesInCharge.com, Michael Saenz has Wesley rising a bit in his latest mock draft, landing with the Houston Rockets at No. 16 overall. The truth is, this would be an excellent spot for Wesley, as the Rockets are one of the worst teams in the NBA, and have multiple first-round picks this year.
Wesley has the size and outside game to succeed at the next level, while also having an incredible first step, enabling him to get to the basket. He has proven to be a huge get for this Irish program and could lead to more elite players choosing the Irish down the road.
Notre Dame basketball could make a significant run
The Irish have to put their heads down and finish out the regular season, as they have three games remaining, including two at home. If they can win out, they have a chance to get a single-digit seed in the NCAA Tournament, especially if they can make a nice run in the ACC Tournament.
In recent games, they have struggled a bit, including an overtime win against Miami and a loss to Wake Forest, but they got back on track Wednesday night against Syracuse. They are back at it again this weekend against Georgia Tech, a team Wesley went off for 22 points against in a four-point win back on January 8.