Hoops | Notre Dame Officially Adds Tony Sanders and Trey Wertz
Notre Dame improved its roster in a significant way over the last week as Santa Clara point guard Trey Wertz announced his transfer to the Irish and 2020 forward Tony Sanders signed.
Wertz won't play in 2020-21 as he's not a graduate transfer, but his 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists will be welcomed when he takes the floor for the Irish.
Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey will have a year to find a position for him as he doesn't know if he's a point guard, shooting guard, or a combination of the two positions.
"I'm very excited about Trey," stated Brey "He's one of those guys in a long, long line of guards that we've had. He is a feel-for-the-game guy, he's got a great skill-set. You think about us two years from now when he gets eligible - when you come at people with Cormac Ryan, Prentiss Hubb, Trey Wertz, Dane Goodwin, and Nate Laszewski, boy you can really spread that floor out.
"Good off-the-dribble skill-set, he's got a great wingspan. He's 6-5, but he's got a 6-11 wingspan. Length is always important in this game now. He's 180, but by the time he takes the floor for us, I bet he'll be 195, maybe 200. But just knows how to play, and I think he really saw an opportunity and a style of play."
The Notre Dame staff might have been a little nervous before Wertz committed to Brey, but the head coach had a good feeling.
I knew we were in good shape when he texted me in the process, 'Coach, I'm big on synergy. Do you see me playing like Jerian Grant in your system?" recalled Brey. "I said, 'Bingo. Yes.' So anyway, really bright kid. The goal is to get an MBA like Rex did and like Nik Djogo will do. Very excited to have him and a great fit for us."
The recruitment of Sanders started years ago as Brey and Gulliver Prep (Fla.) head coach Gary DeCesare had a long-standing relationship.
"Gary DeCesare and I go back 25 years in the profession," explained Brey. "Gary has always wanted us to have our program have one of his guys. Gary texted me about Tony in January and Ryan Humphrey got on it and did a great job with it. We stayed on it.
"He's at a really good school, he's a heck of a student. Gary compares him to Ty Nash and that's quite a compliment. A 6-7 guy who knows how to play, is good with the ball. I just think he's going to be a great four-year investment for us. Again, when you look at today, officially adding Tony Sanders and Trey Wertz, a great shot in the arm for our program. That's 11 scholarship guys, and we'll keep plugging."
Sanders averaged 20.6 points and 7.2 rebounds as a senior and his commitment came fast as he committed just days after getting an offer from the Irish.
That means Sanders has yet to see the campus or facilities, but Brey isn't worried about it.
"We're recruiting in this climate right now, young people and their families are having to be more decisive about a decision and so are coaches and institutions," said Brey. "And you know what, I think it's a good thing. How many times have we gotten into a thing where a kid says, 'Well, I think I know what I want to do, but I want to take two more visits.' And then I fly back to the school and meet with the home. We do waste a lot of time and money on that front.
"Maybe coming out of this, we can streamline our recruiting a little bit more and everyone can be more decisive about it. As much film of basketball as I've watched for 35 years, I think you can watch some tape and get a feel for a guy. And you certainly can feel for a family by way of a high school coach, guidance counselor."