The University of Notre Dame men’s basketball team has received two National Letters of Intent to join the Fighting Irish program for the 2020-21 season. Elijah Taylor, a 6-8 forward from Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia and Matt Zona, a 6-9 forward from Bergen Catholic in Oradell, New Jersey, have committed to play at Notre Dame for Glenn and Stacey Murphy Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Brey.
“We feel these are great fits for us,” Brey said. “We needed front line guys, with what we will graduate over the next couple of years. These are two I-95 (corridor) guys that have played high-level basketball throughout their high school careers. Both Elijah and Matt have great physical frames and will be ready to compete right away in the ACC.”
Elijah Taylor
Imhotep Institute | Philadelphia, PA | 6-8 | Forward
- Led Imhotep Institute to three consecutive PIAA Boys’ 4A Championship in 2018-19, 2017-18 & 2016-17
- 26-6 record in 2018-19 season
- AAU Team: Team Final
- Averaged 11.9 points and 7.3 rebounds with Team Final at 2019 Peach Jam
Brey on Taylor: “You will see his body, how he moves and then you will talk to him and you will say ‘it’s Ty Nash again.’ (Tyrone Nash played for Notre Dame from 2007-11 and played in 118 career games with 712 points and 525 rebounds. He is still active playing professionally in Germany.) I am really excited about Elijah because this is a ‘City of Philadelphia’ kid. We have had a lot of guys from the Philadelphia area, but no one from a city public school in Philly.”
“Taylor carries himself like a power forward with the ability to pop out and shoot his left-handed jumper comfortably from the 15-to-18 foot range, and perhaps a bit further. For the most part, however, he is a back-to-the-basket big man who likes to drop his lead shoulder and barge his way into the paint where he finishes with authority. He will bring with him to Notre Dame a major college physique.” – Tim Prister, Irish Illustrated
Matt Zona
Bergen Catholic | Oradell, NJ | 6-9 | Forward
- Led Bergen Catholic to 2018-19 Non-Public “A” State Title, scoring 17 points in the championship game
- 27-4 record in 2018-19 season
- Third Team All-North New Jersey in 2018-19
- AAU Team: NJ ShoreShots Boys
Brey on Zona – “Matt is a little bit like a (John) Mooney and (Martinas) Geben. He can shoot it from out there. He is a very skilled with good hands and out of Bergen Catholic, he plays in a great high school league.”
“This is an underrated basketball player whose offer sheet certainly was going to expand during his senior season. He’s a sturdy 6-foot-9 with long arms. He plays longer than his actual listed height, although he generally plays below the rim. That should not be confused with a lack of finesse around the hoop because he knows how to drop his lead shoulder and show touch with his right-handed shot.” – Tim Prister, Irish Illustrated