Nov. 10, 2010

camera.gifCoach Brey comments on signing Pat

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Pat Connaughton, a 6-5, 195-pound swingman from Arlington, Mass., has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Notre Dame, 11th-year Irish head coach Mike Brey announced today. Connaughton is Notre Dame’s lone signee for the November early signing period and will enroll at the University in the fall of 2011.

A four-year starter at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass., Connaughton averaged 24.0 points and 17.9 rebounds in 2009-10 as he led St. John’s to one of the best seasons in program history as the squad finished with a 21-3 marks that included a 15-game win streak during the season. In addition, his squad won the Catholic Conference championship and finished the regular season with a 7-1 league record. His team was ranked seventh in the final Massachusetts state polls after making the school’s first appearance since 1974 in the Division 1 state finals.

Connaughton was the only junior selected to the Boston Globe Super Team and the Boston Herald High Dream Team. He was selected as Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Catholic Conference and was named to the Catholic Conference All-Star Team. In addition, he was selected as his team’s MVP and served as team captain.

He is ranked 73rd nationally by Scout.com and 100th by ESPNU.

As a sophomore in 2008-09, Connaughton was elected team captain and team MVP while averaging 22.0 points and 15.0 rebounds en route to earning the first of his back-to-back appearances on the Catholic Conference All-Star Team. His St. John’s Prep team finished with an 11-10 mark and qualified for the state tournament.

During his freshman season in 2007-08, he started 19 games and averaged 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds.

On the AAU circuit, Connaughton has played for the Middlesex Magic (Mass.). During the summer of 2010, he averaged 30.0 points, 20.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 12 contests. He helped the Magic capture the New England Super Regional championship and led his team to a 3-0 record at the AAU National Showcase in Orlando, Fla.

In 2009, he averaged 26.0 points and 16.0 rebounds while leading Middlesex to a silver medal at the AAU National Championships in the Classic division.

A two-sport athlete, Connaughton is also a standout baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he is ranked 33rd nationally by Perfect Game USA for the class of 2011. At the Massachusetts state championship in ’10, in 12 innings pitched, he struck out 14, allowed just four hits and posted a 0.00 ERA. He was named MVP of the 2008 Eastern Massachusetts Babe Ruth Tournament and led the New England Lightning to the silver medal at the 2007 AAU National Championships.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have Pat Connaughton become a member of our Notre Dame basketball family,” Brey says. “He’s just a terrific fit for our program and this University. What impressed me most while I watched him play this past summer was his spirit and will to win. He’s an unbelievable competitor and wants to win each time he takes the court. With our style of play, I’m always looking for players with a lot of versatility, and certainly, Pat will be an asset within our system. He also happens to throw a pretty good fastball.”

-ND-