Nov. 9, 2016
By Megan Golden
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team received two National Letters of Intent from the Class of 2021 on Wednesday as forward Danielle Patterson and center Mikayla Vaughn signed on to continue their academic and athletic careers with the Irish.
Standing at 6-foot-2, Patterson (Brooklyn, New York/The Mary Louis Academy) is the No. 5-ranked small forward in the country, according to espnW/HoopGurlz reporter Dan Olson.
A five-star recruit, Patterson averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two assists as a junior. She led The Mary Louis Academy to an 18-8 record and an appearance in the Brooklyn/Queens semifinals in 2016.
Patterson participated in the U17 Team USA Trials as a junior and was selected to the 2016 New York City Pre-Season Top 10 list prior to this season.
Throughout high school, Patterson guided two AAU squads to championships, including the Philadelphia Belles to the 15U Boo Williams Championship and the New Jersey Sparks to the 2015 Peach State Championship.
“Danielle has great versatility with the ability to play on the perimeter and also score on the block,” Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Women’s Basketball Coach Muffet McGraw said. “She can defend on the perimeter, score off the dribble and will also fit in very well with our up-tempo transition offense.”
Vaughn, a four-star recruit, averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game as a junior at Friends’ Central School, before transferring to Paul VI Catholic High School (Fairfax, Virginia) for her senior season. She was named co-captain of the team, guiding it to the league championship in back-to-back seasons.
Vaughn, 6-foot-3, was named 2016 first-team Class A all-state in Pennsylvania, following the school’s run to the PAISSA quarterfinals her junior year. She has thrice received All-Mainline first-team honors.
Vaughn, like Patterson, was a member of the Philadelphia Belles. She played lacrosse her freshman year and contributed to the team’s PAISSA state championship.
“Mikayla has a tremendous upside,” McGraw said. “She can run the floor, score around the basket and face up. She can rebound, block shots and will help us defensively by being a presence inside.
“I am very excited that we addressed our needs for athletic post players. Both are great students and high-character people who will fit well with our current players and also with the values of Notre Dame.”
Patterson and Vaughn are the first two members of their class to sign with the Irish. The women’s basketball early signing period ends on November 16.
For more information on this year’s signees and the 2016-17 season, visit und.com/ndwbb or follow @ndwbb on Twitter. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets by visiting und.com/buytickets or by calling 574-631-7356.
Danielle Patterson – 6-foot-2 – (Brooklyn, New York/The Mary Louis Academy)
Awards/Honors:
- 2016 New York City Pre-Season Top 10
- 2016 The Tablet All-Division I Team
High School:
Expected to graduate from The Mary Louis Academy in June 2017 ââ’¬¦ transferred from Medgar Evers College Prep following her sophomore year of high school ââ’¬¦ selected to the 2016 Pre-Season Top 10 in New York City ââ’¬¦ participated in the U17 Team USA Trials during her junior year ââ’¬¦ averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two assists per game ââ’¬¦ led her team to an 18-8 record and the Brooklyn/Queens semifinals ââ’¬¦ averaged 17 points and seven rebounds per game her sophomore year and received All-Brooklyn first team honors ââ’¬¦ helped her team to the 2015 Title IX Championship ââ’¬¦ averaged 19.5 points and 7.3 rebounds as a freshman and was named to the All-Brooklyn second team ââ’¬¦ led the Philadelphia Belles to the 15U Boo Williams Championship and guided the New Jersey Sparks to the 2015 Peach State Championship ââ’¬¦ featured in the September 2016 edition of Slam Magazine ââ’¬¦ has been a member of National Honor Society for two years.
Personal:
Daughter of Diane and Lamont Patterson ââ’¬¦ born in Queens, New York ââ’¬¦ full name is Danielle Shea Patterson ââ’¬¦ intends to major in sports management.
Mikayla Vaughn – 6-foot-3 – (Fairfax, Virginia/Paul VI High School)
Awards/Honors:
- 2016 First-Team Pennsylvania, Class A All-State
- 2016 First-Team Friends’ School League All-League
- 2016 COMCAST Sports Fan Base Networks Varsity Girls MVP
- 2015 Third-Team Pennsylvania, Class A All-State
- Three-time All-Mainline First-Team
High School:
Expected to graduate from Paul VI Catholic High School in June 2017 after transferring for her senior year ââ’¬¦ has earned three varsity letters in basketball and one in lacrosse ââ’¬¦ has started every varsity game since her freshman year ââ’¬¦ averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game as a junior ââ’¬¦ selected to be captain her junior year ââ’¬¦ led her team to the Friends’ School League championship in back-to-back seasons … averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game her sophomore season ââ’¬¦ was the southeastern Pennsylvania scoring leader her junior and sophomore seasons ââ’¬¦ led her lacrosse team to the PAISSA State Championship as a freshman ââ’¬¦ was the Philadelphia All-City Classic Tournament MVP and ISAA New Year’s Classic Tournament MVP as a freshman ââ’¬¦ received the Jacqueline Frances O’Neill “Enthusiasm and Spirit” Award ââ’¬¦ volunteers with the Beckett Life Center and CEL Church ââ’¬¦ won first place in the MCATFL French Oral Proficiency Contest in 2013 ââ’¬¦ serves as a peer mentor, grade representative in student government, a member of the Black Student Forum and French Club.
Personal:
Daughter of Terri and Martin Vaughn ââ’¬¦ has two brothers, Martin and Marcus, and one sister, Marquis ââ’¬¦ father was captain and quarterback of the football team at Pennsylvania ââ’¬¦ born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ââ’¬¦ full name is Mikayla Virgie Vaughn ââ’¬¦ intends to major in fine arts.
–ND–
Megan Golden, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since August of 2016. In her role, she coordinates media efforts for the women’s lacrosse and cross country/track and field programs. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Golden is a 2014 graduate of Saint Mary’s College and former Irish women’s basketball manager. Prior to arriving at Notre Dame, she worked in public relations with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox.