Newsstand: Multiple players with Notre Dame ties taken in 2022 NBA Draft
An event recently devoid of Notre Dame connections was filled with them this time around.
The 2022 NBA Draft kicked off from the Barclays Center in New York on Thursday night, and former Irish forward Blake Wesley became the first Notre Dame player drafted since 2016 (Demetrius Jackson – No. 45 overall by the Boston Celtics) as well as the first one-and-done player the program has produced. The San Antonio Spurs selected the South Bend, Ind. native with the No. 25 overall pick.
BlueandGold.com’s Patrick Engel has more on the now-NBA rookie’s night here.
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While Wesley was the only former Irish player chosen in the first round, Purdue guard Jaden Ivey was selected with the No. 5 overall pick by the Detroit Pistons. Ivey is the son of Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey.
Finally, 2023 Notre Dame defensive line commit Devan Houstan’s specialty is the gridiron, but his older brother Caleb is a star on the court. The former Michigan forward, who like Wesley was a one-and-done player in college, was taken with the No. 32 pick by the Orlando Magic.
Tweets of the day
In addition to a standout Irish career complete with a national championship, Ivey played in the WNBA from 2001-05 for the Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury and Detroit Shock.
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The Irish football team is on campus right now for summer workouts, and the position groups are going on various unit-specific bonding trips. On Thursday, members of the secondary went bowling with cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens and safeties coach Chris O’Leary.
While not directly related to Notre Dame (although he did have an Irish offer), the news that No. 1 overall 2023 recruit and quarterback Arch Manning committed to Texas rocked the college football world on Thursday. Since the five-star prospect and nephew of famed quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning has made his decision, expect additional quarterback dominoes in the 2023 class to fall in the near future. Notre Dame has yet to earn a commitment from a 2023 quarterback.
Quote of the day
“After I played against [Kentucky on Dec. 11], I knew I could compete with the best. I knew I was going to go up from there, be a high-level pro.”
— Wesley on when he knew he might go pro after just one year with the Irish
Headlines of the day
Notre Dame visit a big success for Irish TE commit Cooper Flanagan (Mike Singer, Blue & Gold)
Lucky Charms: Five-star WR visits Notre Dame; prospects at camp Thursday (Mike Singer, Blue & Gold)
2024 four-star LB on Notre Dame after visit: ‘It’s absolutely amazing’ (Mike Singer, Blue & Gold)
Notre Dame men’s basketball hosting top-25 recruit Xavier Booker for official visit beginning Thursday (Patric Engel, Blue & Gold)
Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State is only 72 days away (Tyler Horka, Blue & Gold)
One thing I like, one thing I don’t: California at Notre Dame (Ashton Pollard, Blue & Gold)
