Coach | Notre Dame Hoops Track Record Appealing To 2022 F Kyle Filipowski

Mike Mannix knew what he had in Kyle Filipowski‍ long before the 2022 forward exploded onto the national recruiting radar when the contact period opened for junior prospects last month.

The Wilbraham & Monson Academy forward picked up five scholarship offers the first day coaches could directly contact him and has continued to pile them up ever since. The 6-foot-9, 200-pounder’s offer sheet now includes Providence, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Maryland, Marquette, Xavier, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Iowa, Louisville, Purdue and Creighton.

Notre Dame hasn’t offered yet, but Mike Brey also reached out the first day he could.

Mannix, Filipowski’s head coach at the Massachusetts prep school, is very familiar with Brey’s program and recognizes the Irish head coach’s track record in getting the most of his players.

“They’ve had a lot of success with forwards who were really versatile,” said Mannix. “I think they’ve shown that they’ve developed forwards really well.”

Mannix coached against Bonzie Colson when the future Irish star was a star at St. Andrew’s School in Rhode Island.

“Bonzie Colson was one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever seen in the NEPSAC, so we knew he would be good,” Mannix said. “I didn’t know exactly how good he’d be in the ACC and he did surprise and obviously, some of that credit goes to Coach Brey and the staff.

“Kyle is a different player than Bonzie, but they developed him, making him more than a back-to-the-basket guy.”

Mannix also pointed to current Milwaukee Bucks guard and Massachusetts native Pat Connaughton’s success with the Irish.

“Again, different player, but Pat Connaughton, his development was tremendous,” Mannix said. “I could go all of the way back and talk about Troy Murphy and guys like that.”

Brey’s track record also includes guys like Luke Harangody and Tim Abromaitis among others.

“Kyle is different than all of those guys, but they develop their forwards to be more than what they were when they got there,” Mannix continued. “I think that could potentially be something Kyle could be interested in.

“I think he’s going to do some incredible things off the bat, but he’s only touched on how good he’s going to be.”

Mannix is also convinced Filipowski would fit the culture Brey has in South Bend.

“I know Coach Brey likes workers and when you get Kyle Filipowski, you get a worker.”