Sir Mohammed: Three thoughts on Notre Dame's newest commitment

Micah Shrewsberry got his third commitment of the 2024 class on Saturday when four-star small forward Sir Mohammed looked into the ESPNU cameras and announced he will be attending University of Notre Dame. He will join four-star center Garrett Sundra and three-star shooting guard Cole Certa. 

The 2023-24 season will be the first since 2000 that Mike Brey is not in the first chair on the Fighting Irish sidelines. New head coach Micah Shrewsberry had some work to do with the roster for this upcoming season, only returning two scholarship players off last year’s roster.

Shrewsberry’s first high school class at Notre Dame brought in four newcomers. The headliner of the class is four-star post Carey Booth, the son of Penn State’s all-time leading shot blocker Calvin Booth. Three-star guards Markus Burton, Logan Imes, and Braeden Shrewsberry, the son of the head coach, join Booth in South Bend, Indiana.

Let’s go through what Notre Dame is getting with their latest commitment.

Who is Sir Mohammed

Sir Mohammed, the son of former NBA player Nazr Mohammed, is a 6-foot-6 small forward from Charlotte (NC) Myers Park High. Mohammed is the No. 24 small forward and the No. 8 player in North Carolina by the 2024 On3 Industry Rankings. 

Mohammed averaged 13.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists for a Myers Park team that finished 28-4 last season, winning a state championship and finishing nationally ranked. 

“I’m a versatile player who can do whatever it takes to win basketball games,” Mohammed told On3. “I’ve worked hard during high school ball in becoming an on-ball guard, and I’ve been able to bring that over to Curry. I am a huge Oklahoma City Thunder fan, so I watch a little bit of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but I feel like I’m a good passer, so I mix some Josh Giddey in there too. Those two guys are two that I really like to watch.”

In 17 games with Team Curry on the Under Armour Next Circuit this summer, Mohammed averaged 8.4 points and 4.3 assists per game. 

What does he bring to Notre Dame?

Mohammed is at his best when he is a connecting piece. One of his best attributes on the court is his vision. He is an excellent passer and someone who is able to throw various passes, from various angles, in the half-court. 

He will have to continue developing the jump shot, Mohammed is a career 30.8 percent three-point shooter on 288 career high school attempts. This summer, with Team Curry, he shot 25.4 percent on 52 attempts. Mohammed is an opportune off-ball cutter, moving without the ball to get in dangerous areas to put pressure on the defense. 

He will also need to tighten up the turnovers. Mohammed is a player a coach can do a lot of fun and creative things with on the offensive end of the court. He averaged 3.1 turnovers with Team Curry this summer and a 24.2 turnover percentage. 

Looking at the roster makeup, Mohammed will not be asked to play on the ball as much as he has in high school. Shrewsberry will be able to get the best out of him, but putting him in places where Mohammed can thrive. It is also encouraging to see Mohammed knock down shots during the all-star camp circuit after the travel season has ended. Naturally, that sample size is not a large one, but the steps are encouraging. 

Ball mover, connector, son of an NBA player; as you look through Mohammed’s potential collegiate career, there are a lot of things to like. 

How does Mohammed fit into the lineup?

I touched on this in the previous section, but Sir Mohammed can fit into a few different roles in a lineup. He is a player you can be creative with because of his 6-foot-6 size and his passing ability. There will be some situations where he plays the three, somewhere he is the four, and, as he continues to tighten things up, there could be some situations where Mohammed is the primary initiator. 

Mohammed joins a Notre Dame class that brings skill and shooting to the table. Garrett Sundra is a 6-foot-11 post who is fluid and can shoot. Cole Certa is a developmental wing that has deep range. If there is one thing shooters need, it is someone who can get them the ball. As Mohammed continues to tighten up his game, he is someone that can move the ball around while delivering on-target passes. 

Stacking this 2024 class on top of what Shrewsberry brought in in 2023, you are starting to see the mold of the player he wants to build with. He will have seven players, who are program guys, that have some skill and toughness for the long haul. Mohammed fits right into that mold. 

What Mohammed said

“My relationship with Coach (Micah) Shrewsberry has been great the whole time, even throughout the switch. I love the staff there. He sees me as a lead guard who can do a lot on the floor. He sees me doing a lot of the same things I do with Team Curry.”

“Development is going to be important to me. But honestly, the relationships will play the biggest part for me. Playing for a coach who cares about me and cares about my family and sees me as a really good basketball player who can come in and help day one. I want to play for a coach who knows my game as well as I know my game. A coach who sees me as being a guy who can help them win day one and a national championship.”