Doug Ferguson, Notre Dame Recruiting

NOTRE DAME ADDS DRAGICEVICH TO 2010 CLASS

Chicago Star Only Has Eyes for Irish

by DOUG FERGUSON

While following Chicago-area AAU teams through Vegas, NBE came across Alex Dragicevich, who was probably the best player from the Land of Lincoln’s class of 2010 that was not in the Mac Irvin Fire program. Dragicevich’s talent was not only noticed by NBE though, as several coaches were on hand to see Full Package Elite, which is based in Chicago’s north suburbs excel through the Adidas Super 64 tournament.

Most notably of the who’s who of the NCAA coaching ranks was Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. The Irish boss made an offer to Dragicevich while in Vegas and then again made his level of interest felt by placing himself front and center at every Full Package game in Merrillville (IN) this past week for the ChicagoHoops.com End of Summer Showdown. Dragicevich made it known Tuesday that the interest was mutual as sources with knowledge of his recruitment indicate he gave his verbal commitment to the Irish following a visit to the South Bend campus.

The versatile 6-foot-6 wing, formerly of the Illinois Wolves, and currently preparing to start his senior year at Glenbrook North HS made it known that his “interest with them (Notre Dame) is very high” in an interview with NBE in Merrillville on Friday. NBE had been informed by other sources that it was “only a matter of time until he commits” and that “its Notre Dame vs. the field at this point”.

It turned out that these sources couldn’t be more right. It was also the vibe NBE got after talking to Alex last week. Dragicevich is exactly the type of player that Brey likes in his system. He is a wing who can hit from the perimeter at a very high rate. His versatility is evident as he is also very strong and has the ability to take his opponent of the dribble and into the paint with relative ease.

Mike Brey took advantage of a situation where Dragicevich fell off the radar somewhat due to injury, as he missed the first 10-day live period in July with a broken finger. He had offers from D-1 schools such as Xavier, Miami (OH), Colorado, Utah, and Oklahoma State but was infatuated by the Irish from the jump. He should fit in perfectly next season when he joins former rival Jack Cooley (Glenbrook South HS), who is an incoming freshman this season in South Bend.

Dragicevich joins Baltimore (MD) Mount St. Joseph point guard Eric Atkins as commitments in the class of 2010 for the Irish. The Irish have two more open scholarships in the class of 2010 at this point.

Below is a video of Dragicevich in action at the End of Summer Classic taking the ball into the lane for the bucket and the foul…