Prep Profile – Notre Dame Prep

New England Recruiting Report | Wednesday, November 20th, 2013

Notre Dame Prep is already several games into their 2013-2014 season, but on the eve of the 2013 National Prep Showcase, they’re about to get a good look at the competition that stands between them and their ultimate goal.

As an independent prep school, i.e. one that does not compete in the NEPSAC, the only post-season championship which Notre Dame has to strive for is the National Prep Championship.

That’s a title which the Crusaders won back in 2007, when current Pittsburgh assistant coach Bill Barton led a group headlined by Michael Beasley to the first ever undisputed national championship.

Ryan Hurd took over the program shortly thereafter and has continued to have Notre Dame among the nation’s top challengers ever since.  

This season appears to be no different and as the Crusaders get ready to take the court at Albertus Magnus College on Friday, their goal is to return to New Haven, Connecticut this March, and make yet another run at a national title.

This year’s Crusader squad will again be led in the backcourt where Jarvis Garrett is both one of the top returning guards in New England as well as perhaps the best available guard left on the board in the 2014 class.  

He’ll team up with West Virginia bound guard Daxter Miles to create an explosive backcourt, capable of pushing the tempo and scoring in waves at virtually anytime.  

It’s far from a two man show though as Notre Dame has their typical depth in the backcourt, and they won’t be afraid to use it as history has shown that Hurd isn’t averse to putting four guards on the floor at any one time.    

C.J. Vaughn is a sharp-shooter who comes to Fitchburg by way of Illinois while Dajon Streeter is a powerful playmaking guard who last starred at Quest Prep in Las Vegas.  

Former Brighton guard Malik James looks to be playing the best basketball of his career, complete with increased quickness off the bounce and a more reliable jumper.  

Additional depth will be provided by Mahlik Sims, one of the top scorers in the state of New Mexico last season as well as Turkish native Emre Akin.  

Dnahore Bollo may be the team’s only true post player, but at six-foot-ten and 240 pounds, he’s a massive man who is capable of asserting himself inside the paint.  

Freddy Bitondo looks poised to take on the same role filled by Luc Mbah a Moute a year ago as a long and athletic forward who has the versatility to play (and defend) multiple positions because of his motor and aggressive floor game.  

Nikola Vujovic, a six-foot-eight forward bound for Monmouth, will provide an ideal compliment as a highly skilled perimeter pick and pop threat for Notre Dame’s many playmaking guards.  

Dwayne Conley, Samuel Egedi, and Tugay Efe will all provide additional depth at various points along the frontcourt rotation.  

With a variety of talented guards and some versatile complimenting pieces up front, this is yet another  extremely dangerous Notre Dame Prep team.  They’ll take center stage at this weekend’s National Prep Showcase, taking on both Fork Union and Hargrave Military Academy, in what Ryan Hurd hopes will be one of two successful trips to New Haven this year.