Notre Dame:  Allen & Belardo Shining; Higgins Back on the Board

NewEnglandRecruitingReport.com | Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Notre Dame Prep is always one of the more popular destinations for college coaches, and this time of year is no different as they host many of the best remaining players in the class of 2008. 

Allen Impressing

Coaches still looking for a talented wing player should be flocking to Fitchburg to get a look at Ryan Allen.  The younger brother of Boston Celtic Tony Allen is a mid-major level player who is still wide open. 

“He is a terrific kid with a great work ethic,” said Notre Dame Prep Head Coach Ryan Hurd. 

Allen had plenty of interest early in the year, but coaches were concerned about his academic standing.  After working hard in the classroom and improving his test score, it is no longer a problem as Allen is poised to qualify. 

In terms of his ability on the court, Allen is a phenomenal athlete and one of the most effective dribble drive players you will find.  He has the rare ability to not only get to the rim at virtually anytime, but also rise above the defense to finish explosively.  He is also a lock down defender and a physical specimen who should be uniquely prepared to deal with the physicality of the college game.  The only question coaches have had this year has been in regards to his perimeter jumper. 

“He has worked incredibly hard to address that,” said Hurd.  “All year long he has been in the gym at 6am getting shots up, and it has improved to the point where if you leave him open on the perimeter he will knock it down.”

Belardo’s Stock Takes off After Kingwood

Gaby Belardo had an up and down year.  After getting early interest from the likes of Kansas State, the swingman looked like he would be one of the most highly recruited players on Notre Dame’s roster.  But when the season began, he had a hard time fitting into his new team’s system. 

Well this month his stock has skyrocketed back to where it was in the fall as he turned in a dominating performance at the Kingwood Classic in Texas.  As a result he now has a visit scheduled with the Big East’s South Florida. 

Higgins Released from National Letter of Intent

Notre Dame’s starting point guard for the last two years has been released from his National Letter of Intent with Duquesne and is now back on the board.

Duquesne University announced on Wednesday that Johnny Higgins was being released from his National Letter of Intent.  Higgins signed with the Dukes in November.  Playing at Duquesne would have provided Higgins with an opportunity to be re-united with Bill Barton, the former Notre Dame Prep Head Coach who currently serves as a member of Ron Everheart’s staff.  Higgins thrived in his one year under Barton’s tutelage as Notre Dame Prep won the National Prep Championship in 2007. 

Duquesne’s media relations department released the following statement from Everheart:

“I had the opportunity to speak to Johnny and his parents at length, and we came to the conclusion that pursuing options outside of furthering his career at Duquesne University would be in his best interest.”

Before signing with Duquesne, Higgins had strong interest from schools including Old Dominion, Rhode Island, and Virginia Tech.  Now that his recruitment has been re-opened he should quickly draw attention from a wide variety of schools.