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Notre Dame basketball: Blake Wesley in a perfect spot with the Spurs

By Brad Weiss

Feb 26, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Prentiss Hubb (3) and guard Blake Wesley (0) chat on the bench in the second half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Prentiss Hubb (3) and guard Blake Wesley (0) chat on the bench in the second half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Notre Dame basketball program saw Blake Wesley drafted in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft, landing in a perfect spot in San Antonio.

The 2022 NBA Draft has come and gone, and Notre Dame basketball star Blake Wesley was hoping to hear his name called in last night’s first round. The first one-and-done player in program history, Wesley had an outstanding true freshman season, leading the Irish to the Round of 32 before being eliminated.

Throughout his rise from a bench player, to a starter, many felt that Wesley would be a special player, and he certainly proved to be so. In his first start, a game against the Kentucky Wildcats, not only did Wesley play outstanding basketball, but he had the game-winning bucket.

As the year went on, he started to pop up in NBA Mock Drafts, a clear indicator that he may leave after the season. He did forgo his eligibility, and on Thursday night, became a member of the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA.

Notre Dame basketball star in a great spot with Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs were in desperate need of help in the backcourt, and they got it with not only Wesley, who went No. 25 overall, but also with Malaki Branham, a point guard from Ohio State who was picked at No. 20. Both players were picked after they were projected to, which means the Spurs got a steal.

Yahoo Sports gave the pick an “A” grade, based on what Wesley has done this offseason getting bigger, and the production he had at Notre Dame. Truth is, Wesley is a do-everything guard that now is big enough to wreak havoc at the next level, and with three first-round picks, San Antonio is going through a youth movement.

San Antonio is a proud franchise and one that always seems to be in contention to make some noise in the Western Conference. It will be interesting to see how the three new faces gel in Year 1, but if Wesley’s first season in South Bend is any indication, he is going to be a part of the flow as a rookie and should be a starter at some point.