Nov. 8, 2006
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame head women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw announced Wednesday that three of the country’s top high school student-athletes have chosen to continue their academic and athletic careers with the Irish, each signing a National Letter of Intent to attend Notre Dame beginning in the fall of 2007. Becca Bruszewski, a 6-1 forward from Valparaiso, Ind. (Wheeler High School), Brittany Mallory, a 5-10 guard from Baltimore, Md. (McDonogh School) and Devereaux Peters, a 6-2 forward from Chicago, Ill. (Fenwick High School) all made their official commitments to the Irish during the early signing period, which began Wednesday and continues through Nov. 15.
All three student-athletes are rated among the top 100 players in the country by Blue Star Basketball, with that outlet also ranking the Notre Dame incoming class of 2007 as the No. 11 group in the nation. It marks the 11th consecutive year that the Irish have attracted a Top 25 recruiting class, a streak only two other programs in the country (Connecticut and Tennessee) can match.
“I think we’ve done a tremendous job of addressing our needs with the addition of these three ladies,” McGraw said. “We’re getting some very skilled offensive players who will fit well into our system. There’s a good balance between perimeter shooting and rebounding, and I think rebounding was the area that we felt was our biggest need. What I also like about these players is that they’re smart, competitive athletes who catch on to new ideas and concepts quickly. They’re all should complement our current team very well and we’re excited to have them join our program next year.”
Notre Dame has eight monogram winners and three starters returning this season, following a 18-12 record and an 11th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2005-06. Last week, the Irish tipped off their 30th anniversary season by rolling to exhibition victories over Lake Superior State (82-55) and Northwood (82-35). Notre Dame now is preparing for its regular-season opener Friday at 4 p.m. (ET) against Central Michigan at the Joyce Center — tickets for that game, as well as the entire 16-game regular-season home schedule, can be purchased through the Notre Dame Athletics Ticket Office (574-631-7356) or by clicking here and then following the instructions listed.
A capsule look at the three newest additions to the Notre Dame women’s basketball program follows:
BECCA BRUSZEWSKI (broo-SHEFF-skee), 6-1, Forward (Valparaiso, Ind./Wheeler High School)
Statistics/Records: 18.3 ppg., 9.7 rpg., 2.3 bpg. in her three-year career at Wheeler High School in Valparaiso, Ind. … 22.5 ppg., 10.1 rpg., 3.1 spg., 2.5 apg., 2.2 bpg. last season with three triple-doubles to her credit; also second-ranked scorer in Indiana Class 2A … holds school records for single-season points (457), rebounds (269) and blocked shots (103), as well as Porter County freshman scoring record … first player in school history to average a double-double, doing so as both a sophomore (2004-05) and junior (2005-06) … played for Indiana Elite AAU team, including two seasons as teammate with current Notre Dame freshman guard Melissa Lechlitner … also an outstanding volleyball player, who led Wheeler to four sectional titles and regional berths … holds school volleyball records for single-season kills (657), career kills (2,042), single-season blocks (139) and career blocks (452).
Becca Bruszewski has averaged a double-double in each of her last two seasons at Wheeler High School, including 22.5 ppg. and 10.1 rpg. in 2005-06. (submitted photo)
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Awards/Honors: Ranked 44th in nation (10th among small forwards) by Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report … ranked 58th in nation by Blue Star Basketball … ranked No. 19 wing forward in nation by All-Star Girls Report (ASGR) … two-time Street & Smith’s preseason honorable mention All-American … two-time honorable mention all-state selection … three-time all-area pick … three-time all-Lake Athletic Conference (Blue) choice, including two-time LAC-Blue Player of the Year … member of 2006 Indiana Junior All-Star Core Team (averaged 7.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in three games vs. Indiana Senior All-Star Team that included Lechlitner and fellow Irish freshman guard Ashley Barlow) … Regional Roundball Review Senior Seven Team (2007) … preseason candidate for 2007 Indiana Miss Basketball … also three-time all-state selection in volleyball.
Personal Data: Born June 7, 1988 in Merrillville, Ind. … youngest of four children … parents are Therese and Mark Bruszewski … will be the 18th Indiana resident to play for Notre Dame, but the first to come from northwest Indiana … hails from same area of state as Irish freshman football player James Aldridge.
McGraw on Bruszewski …
“Becca is someone who is equally strong both inside and outside. She shoots the three-pointer well and she’s not afraid to mix it up on the boards. But what I really like about her the most is her toughness. She’s a really competitive person and she’s got great mental toughness, two things that can’t be coached. She’s also going to bring an additional air of confidence and fearlessness to our team, and she’s someone who isn’t intimidated by her surroundings. That’s what I’m most looking forward to seeing from Becca when she arrives on campus.”
Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report on Bruszewski …
“Fundamental, basketball IQ, 3-range, utilizes screens to get looks, consistent scorer, offensive rebounds.”
BRITTANY MALLORY, 5-10, Guard (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh School)
Statistics/Records: 19.6 ppg., 7.0 rpg., 3.5 apg., 4.1 spg. during the past two seasons at McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Md. … 20.1 ppg., 7.8 apg., 3.2 spg., 4.6 spg. and 52 three-pointers made as a sophomore in 2004-05, leading McDonogh to a 23-6 record … came back with 19.1 ppg., 6.2 rpg., 3.8 apg. and 3.5 spg. last season as a junior while helping Eagles to a 20-8 record … has scored 1,356 points in her three-year prep career, hitting the 1,000-point mark in December 2005 … tossed in career-high 35 points in overtime loss to St. Francis (state’s top-ranked Class A squad) last year … played for Maryland Choice AAU squad that reached semifinals at 2005 Junior Olympics … injury left her unable to compete with talented Fairfax Stars AAU team in summer of 2006 (squad made semifinals at Oregon City’s “End of the Trail” Tournament and quarterfinals at both 16U AAU Nationals and 17U U.S. Junior Nationals) … also earned three letters as a standout lacrosse player … averaged 3.2 goals, 1.0 assists and 4.1 ground balls per game during past two seasons for nationally-ranked McDonogh squad (10th in 2005; fifth in 2006) that won Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) A-2 Conference title in 2005 and reached championship game in 2006.
Hard-nosed guard Brittany Mallory will be the fourth Maryland native to play for the Irish and first since 1994.
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Awards/Honors: Ranked 96th in nation by Blue Star Basketball … two-time all-state selection, as well as two-time first-team all-metro choice by the Baltimore Sun … made IAAM All-Star Team in both basketball and lacrosse past two seasons … also two-time honorable mention All-American in lacrosse (Lax Power), and twice named all-state and all-metro by the Baltimore Sun … selected to 2006 high school All-Tewaaraton Team for lacrosse.
Personal Data: Born Feb. 6, 1989 in Baltimore, Md. … younger of two children … parents are Wendy and Bob Mallory, Jr. … hails from same area as Notre Dame senior football players Victor Abiamiri and Ambrose Wooden (The Gilman School), as well as Irish sophomore women’s lacrosse player Shannon Burke (Roland Park Country School) … will be the fourth Maryland native to suit up for the Notre Dame women’s basketball program, following in the footsteps of Beth Conlisk (1977-78; Darlington/high school not available), Comalita Haysbert (1988-92; Baltimore/Western HS) and Sherri Orlosky (1990-94; Columbia/Atholton HS).
McGraw on Mallory …
“Brittany is a complete offensive player. She’s got a great basketball IQ and do a lot of different things well, whether it be shooting, passing, rebounding or defending. She also likes to make big plays and enjoys the chance to step up when the challenge is even greater. She can score a lot, but it’s her overall package at both ends of the court that has made Brittany so appealing to our program.”
Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report on Mallory …
“Versatile perimeter player, consistent deep threat, poised leader, anticipates defensively, solid mid-range game, fundamental.”
DEVEREAUX PETERS, 6-2, Forward (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick High School)
Statistics/Records: 11.3 ppg., 6.6 rpg., .583 field goal percentage during three-year prep career at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Ill. … averaged 12.9 ppg., with team-bests of 7.7 rpg., 2.7 bpg. and a .605 field goal percentage (178-of-294) last season as FHS went 32-2 and rose to No. 1 ranking in state (top 20 nationally) before being upset by one point in sectional final … registered 12.7 ppg., 7.7 rpg. and a .598 field goal percentage (186-of-311) as a sophomore, helping Friars to 33-3 record and trip to Class AA state quarterfinals … Fenwick also finished third in Class AA tournament during her freshman season (2003-04) … team has posted a 99-9 (.917) record since she first suited up for the Friars … also starred on AAU circuit with Chicago Hoops Express.
Awards/Honors: Ranked 21st in nation (fourth among power forwards) by Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report … ranked 24th in nation by Blue Star Basketball … ranked 31st in nation (seventh among power forwards) by All-Star Girls Report (ASGR) … ranked 35th in nation (12th among all forwards) by Scout.com … three-time Street & Smith’s honorable mention All-American (2004-06) … two-time adidas Top Ten Camp All-Star (Upperclass – 2005; Underclass – 2004) … 2006 all-state selection (second team by Chicago Tribune; honorable mention by AP) … ’06 East Suburban Catholic Conference Most Valuable Player … two-time all-conference choice (2005, 2006).
Personal Data: Will be the 11th Illinois product to join the Irish women’s basketball program and the ninth to come from the Chicagoland area, including current Notre Dame sophomore guard Lindsay Schrader (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett HS) … also the latest in a long line of successful student-athletes to attend Notre Dame from Fenwick High School, including 1953 Heisman Trophy winner John Lattner.
McGraw on Peters …
“Devereaux is such a presence at the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Her athleticism and versatility, with the way she can post up inside or step away and hit the perimeter shot, will make her a great complement to our team. Coming from a storied program like Fenwick and working with a great coach like Dave Power, Devereaux knows what it’s like to play at the highest level. We expect that she will be a key contributor for us very early on in her career at Notre Dame.”
Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report on Peters …
“Superb in transition, finishes on break, elusive mid-range game, agile and athletic frame provides edge to outquick defenders, makes an impact.”
Scout.com on Peters …
“An athletic wing who can really leap, Peters has a bundle of skills on which to build. She has a smooth jumper from the short corner to the elbows, improving dribbling skills and can be a presence on the blocks. She also can be very disruptive with her long arms on defense, where she is an effective shot-blocker.”
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