June 21, 2000
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Finding a spot on an improving basketball squad is not an easy thing to do.
Mike Monserez discovered that this past April. After a successful run at the NIT tournament, Monserez sat down with Irish head coach Matt Doherty to access where things stood.
The guard found out that they did not stand as favorably as he would have wished.
Entering into the 2000 season, junior transfer Ryan Humphrey becomes eligible to play. With Humphrey most likely entering the starting lineup that shifts David Graves into competition with Matt Carroll at shooting guard.
Freshmen Torrian Jones and Chris Markwood offer the Irish strong backups at both guard slots. These changes in the lineup and the addition of Jones and Markwood did not prove to be in Monserez’s favor.
“As discussed frequently with me throughout my Notre Dame recruiting process, there was a great opportunity to play a key role in leading the team from either guard position,” Monserez stated. “While clearly headed for great success, the Notre Dame basketball program no longer provides me that great opportunity.”
The University granted Monserez’s request to be released from his scholarship on Tuesday.
Monserez committed to play for John MacLeod and the Irish during his junior season of high school. He played in all 37 games as a freshman, logging over 300 minutes of play as freshman.
“I am a supporter of Coach Doherty and his program,” Monserez said. “And, at very few places in this country could I find better teammates, and I wish them every success. Notre Dame is a great University, and I am thankful for the opportunity to attend such a fine school and to represent the University as a member of its basketball team.”
Monserez proved a vital part of the basketball program. The freshman averaged 2.2 points per game and played just over nine minutes in each contest.
“We’re sorry Mike has decided to leave Notre Dame,” Doherty said. “He has represented the University in a first-class manner. We’ll miss him and we wish him nothing but the best. He’ll always be part of the Notre Dame basketball family at Notre Dame.”
With the departure of Monserez, Doherty and his staff find themselves able to extend another scholarship in the 2000-2001 recruiting season.