Notre Dame women’s basketball signee Cassandre Prosper to enroll early, play in 2022-23
An immediate reinforcement is on the way for Notre Dame women’s basketball. Class of 2023 five-star signee Cassandre Prosper will enroll early at the university and play for the Fighting Irish this season, the university announced Monday morning.
“I can’t wait to start with my teammates and new coaches,” Prosper said in an Instagram video. “I’m so blessed to be a part of this environment and community. I’m ready for this new chapter!”
Prosper committed to and signed with Notre Dame on Nov. 12, right in the middle of the class of 2023’s early signing window. She was the second of three five-star recruits to sign with head coach Niele Ivey‘s team during that period. No. 5 overall recruit Hannah Hidalgo and No. 20 overall recruit Emma Risch were the others. Prosper will be the only one of the trio to enroll early and play in 2022-23. She will be in school in South Bend next semester and will be eligible to play in January.
Prosper was in South Bend this past weekend to catch part of the Irish’s 108-44 victory over Merrimack College. Ivey said she was elated to see her in attendance one day before her brother, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, scored 14 points for Marquette in the Golden Eagles’ 79-64 victory over Notre Dame.
The 6-2 guard/forward from Cairine Wilson Secondary School in Ottawa, Ontario, is following in current sophomore point guard Olivia Miles’ footsteps. Miles enrolled early as a five-star prospect in January 2021 and played six games for the Irish during the rest of the 2020-21 season. She averaged 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 22.7 minutes per game.
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It’s not unlikely for Prosper to make a similar impact in an even larger sample size of games. No. 5 Notre Dame (8-1) is only nine games into its 2022-23 season. There is a long way to go for Ivey and company, and the extra body will surely be of assistance. In multiple games this season, Ivey essentially employed a seven-player rotation. In the win over then-No. 3 UConn, for example, graduate student center Lauren Ebo played 30 minutes off the bench and freshman guard KK Bransford played 24. Junior center Nat Marshall was next in line with just 3 minutes.
Before the arrival of Prosper, Notre Dame had nine scholarship players on its roster. At 10, the Irish now have as many as they did during last season’s run to the Sweet 16. One of those players, Katlyn Gilbert (who transferred to Missouri), did not play past Christmas for personal reasons. Marshall did not play past Jan. 20 because of a knee injury. So, barring any injuries, Notre Dame will be more equipped for a deep run this year from a roster maintenance perspective.
Prosper is a major reason why.
“I’m so excited,” Ivey said. “She has an incredible family. Basketball is in their roots. I think she’s going to make a big difference here.”
