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Notre Dame Basketball

2020 Ohio PG Visiting Notre Dame This Weekend

October 16, 2017
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Matt Allocco is familiar with Notre Dame, but the 2020 point guard from Ohio will get a chance to see the school from a different point of view when he visits this weekend.

The Hilliard, Ohio native knows all about the tradition in South Bend and a pair of his family members are a part of that tradition.

“Two of my uncles – my uncle Frank and his brother – both played there,” Allocco said. “My uncle Frank played for Ara Paraseghian in football and Digger Phelps in basketball. That’s kind of where we first got the connection. I’ve always kind of been a fan of them because of that.”

Frank Allocco was a member of the football team’s 1973 national championship and played hoops for two seasons under Phelps.

Matt, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound sophomore from Hilliard Bradley High School landed his first offer back in June from Miami-Ohio.

“It was very exciting obviously to get the first one and have it be pretty early,” he said. “I think it helps to get a little more exposure from other schools too. It was really exciting.”

So far, Allocco has received varying levels of interest from schools like Purdue, West Virginia, Dayton, Davidson and Notre Dame.

Irish assistant coach Ryan Ayers was at Hilliard Bradley a few weeks back to check out Allocco in person.

“I think they’re pretty interested,” Allocco said of the Irish. “He already kind of knew the name because of my uncle Frank, who went there. He said he likes my game, I could shoot it pretty well. He said they’re very interested.”

Scouts like what Allocco brings to the game as a floor general.

“They think I’m very solid and can handle pressure,” he said. “I shoot it pretty well, they say.  But I think the best part about me is my competitiveness, how competitive I am. I try to be a great leader and a great teammate.”

He isn’t sure what to expect this weekend and South Bend, but while he’s excited for the visit, his priority is on his own upcoming season.

 “I’m definitely interested and I like Notre Dame, but as of now, I’m trying to focus on our high school team. We have a really great program and a really great coach, one of the best coaches around I think, Coach Brett Norris. As of now, we’re just kind of dialed in to this upcoming season.”

 
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