With the football season coming to a sudden end, all eyes now turn to Notre Dame basketball as the Irish are 8-3 on the season, but were dealt some pretty rough injury news recently. Leading scorer and point guard Markus Burton injured his ankle early in the game against TCU and never returned to the court.
Burton came down awkwardly on the ankle and had to be helped off the court to be taken straight to the locker room. News broke the next day stating that Burton would be out for several weeks, and recently he underwent surgery on the injured ankle; there is currently no timetable for his return. This is a huge blow for a Notre Dame team that was hitting its stride, especially with Burton averaging 18.5 points per game.
Clearly, head coach Marcus Shtrewsberry felt his team needed a boost, and his latest bit of news proves that. Notre Dame basketball released a statement announcing that freshman cornerback Mark Zackery IV would be joining the basketball team as the newest point guard for the Irish.
Notre Dame freshman Mark Zackery IV, a corner for Marcus Freeman's football team, will suit up as a guard for Micah Shrewsberry's men's basketball team.
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) December 11, 2025
"He will be an asset for us...He is a great young man that will add more value to our locker room and culture."
Pretty cool. pic.twitter.com/91mBpuR471
Mark Zachery IV renews his career as a two-sport athlete with Notre Dame basketball announcement
Notre Dame basketball needed some help with its roster with Burton out with an injury, and since this isn't the big leagues, it's not like the Irish can go trade for a new point guard. So, they have to use what is right in front of them, and Mark Zackery IV seems to be the answer.
Zackery had a solid first season under Marcus Freeman, playing in seven games and recording 10 total tackles, seven solo tackles, and two passes defended. Now, he will trade in one Marcus for another under Strewsberry.
"I think that Mark will be a great addition to our program. I have seen him play many times throughout his high school career," Strewsberry said. "He will be an asset for us with his ball handling, playmaking, and defensive abilities. More importantly, he is a great young man who will add more value to our locker room and culture."
Now, it is not like Zackery is a stranger to the basketball court. He is a former Indiana Class 4A state champion and high school all-star. As a sophomore, Zackery helped lead Ben Davis High to a perfect 33-0 record and win the state title. As a junior, Zackery was close to helping his team win back-to-back titles, but came up just short as the runner-up.
He also played AAU throughout high school and finished his junior season averaging 11 points per game, 2.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.4 steals. While he will have to dust off his basketball skills, it feels like this is a great move by Streesberry and can hopefully help the Irish get back on the winning track.