Notre Dame officially announced the additions to a pair of basketball players Tuesday, a couple of players that came into the fold in the last couple of weeks.
Tony Sanders, Jr. announced his commitment to Notre Dame 12 days ago and joins fellow incoming freshmen Elijah Taylor and Matt Zona while over the weekend Santa Clara transfer Trey Wertz committed to the Fighting Irish. Of the latest additions, Mike Brey said the following during Tuesday’s media availability.
“As we officially add Tony and Trey today, it is a great shot in the arm for our program,”
On Sanders, Jr.:
“Tony is compared to Ty Nash and that is quite a compliment. He is a 6-7 guy who just knows how to play and is good with the ball. I think he is going to be a great four-year investment for us. He has a feel for the game and athletic ability. He has been well-trained as a high school player.”
On Wertz:
“I am very excited about Trey. He is one of those guards in a long, long line of great guards we have had. I don’t know if he is a ‘one,’ or a ‘two,’ or a ‘two-and-a-half,’ or a ‘three,’ or whatever – he is a basketball player. He is a feel-for-the-game guy with a great skill set.
“Trey is 6-5 but he has a 6-11 wingspan. He is 180 (lbs) but by the time he takes the floor for us he will be 195 or 200. I knew we were in good shape when he texted us during the process and said ‘Coach, I have been on Synergy, do you see me playing like Jerian Grant in your system?’ I said, bingo! Yes. He is a great fit for us.”
Between 2007 and 2017 Notre Dame appeared in the NCAA Tournament eight of 11 seasons before missing the tournament (would have missed 2020 with anything short of an ACC Tournament Championship) each of the last three seasons. Here’s to hoping Sanders and Wertz are in fact that shot in the arm that ends that slump sooner than later.