Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Blake Wesley Is Irish

The University of Notre Dame men’s basketball team has announced that Blake Wesley, a 6-5 guard from Riley High School in South Bend, has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Fighting Irish for the 2021-22 season. 

“We have been watching Blake work on his game since middle school and he has developed himself into a complete guard who has great length with court vision – and is a big-time defender,” Glenn and Stacey Murphy Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Brey said. 

“He has a natural ability to score the basketball. To welcome in another local basketball talent is exciting not only to our program, but the South Bend area.” 

Wesley joins South Bend St. Joseph guard J.R. Konieczny, who signed with the Irish a week ago, to make up the 2020-21 recruiting class for Notre Dame. 

A consensus four-star recruit, Wesley is ranked 96th nationally by Rivals and 113th by 247Sports. An honorable mention all-state selection as a junior in 2019-20, Wesley led all local area players with a 26.0 points-per-game average last season. 

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • 2020 IndyStar All-State Honorable Mention
  • 2020 Associated Press All-State High Honorable Mention
  • 2020 Indiana Basketball Coaches Association/Subway “Supreme 15” Underclass Team 
  • 2020 IndyStar Indiana Junior All-Star Team
  • 2020 All-Northern Indiana Conference First Team

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT WESLEY

“The first thing that jumped out at me is his athleticism. Notre Dame typically lands elite shooters and players that are unselfish and willing to distribute the ball. Wesley’s athleticism is elevated even further by a quick first step and efficient handle. Probably his best attribute is when he is able to get out in space and on the fast break. His speed and physicality really shows when he is able get his momentum going to the rim.”

– Nathan Erbach, Irish Breakdown

“A 6-foot-4 guard with high-level athleticism combined with the ability to get to the rim and make plays off the dribble, Wesley is someone with a lot of upside. If Wesley can put it all together as a senior before getting to college, it is very possible that he could end up being one of the surprise freshmen in the country.”

– Brian Snow, 247Sports

WESLEY NOTES

247Sports – four-star prospect, No. 113 nationally, No. 26 shooting guard, No. 3 player in Indiana … Rivals – four-star prospect, No. 96 nationally, No. 22 shooting guard … will play for Alex Daniel at Riley High School this season after playing under Andre Owens the previous three years … member of the Indy Heat AAU program … the first South Bend public school men’s basketball player to sign with the program since Michael Smith from LaSalle High School in 1985 … son of Leslie and Derrick Wesley … mother, Leslie, represents District 3 on the South Bend School Board … father, Derrick, graduated from Riley High School and played basketball at Ball State from 1984-88 … Derrick Sr. was a two-time team MVP for the Cardinals, finished his career at the school’s third all-time leading scorer and was inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998 … has an older sister, Taylor and older brother, Derrick Jr. … Taylor played basketball at IUSB (2016-20) … has been friends with future classmate J.R. Konieczny since middle school.