Blue and Gold Illustrated

August 2017

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/851047

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 43 of 63

44 AUGUST 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY COREY BODDEN Upper Arlington (Ohio) High shoot‑ ing guard Dane Goodwin committed to Ohio State in December 2014 and appeared destined to remain a Buck‑ eye. But that changed when OSU an‑ nounced June 5 that longtime head coach Thad Matta would not return for the 2017‑18 season. The 6‑4, 170‑pound Goodwin went back to square one in his recruitment, and made visits to Notre Dame, Vil‑ lanova and Ohio State. A few weeks later, Goodwin knew he wanted to be with the Fighting Irish. He publicly announced a pledge July 5. "I just felt I belonged there with the way that I fit in with the guys, the coaches and style of play they have," Goodwin told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "It was home for me and I'm looking forward to the next few years with them. "After I decommitted, I didn't know where I wanted to go with it. Notre Dame called very shortly after it became public … a month later and I'm committed." Notre Dame's total package helped push the Irish over the top. "Obviously, they've had great suc‑ cess the past few years and really the last couple decades, too," Goodwin said. "The general vibe around the school, coaches and the players — it's a family. It's one of the best aca‑ demically, too. "Everything kind of went into the decision and I wanted to pursue it." Goodwin developed relationships with head coach Mike Brey and as‑ sistant coach Ryan Ayers in the short timeframe. "Coach Brey is a great coach, and that has shown especially in the past couple years with back‑to‑back Elite Eights and continued success," Goodwin explained. "Coach Brey is also the type of person that you want to be around. "The same goes for Coach Ayers. With the Columbus ties with Coach Ayers, we connected very well and I think my relationship with him helped with my decision as well as all the other coaches." Notre Dame already held a com‑ mitment from Rivals100 shooting guard Robby Carmody of Mars (Pa.) High before Goodwin joined the class, but that did not deter the ris‑ ing senior. "Robby's commitment was a little unexpected, but ultimately it didn't impact my decision," Goodwin said. "With the way they play, me and Robby are different enough that we could both potentially play together at the guard positions." It was a whirlwind summer for Goodwin, but he is confident in his decision to pick the Irish. "The last month has definitely been crazy," Goodwin stated after his commitment. "Everything kind of came unexpectedly. I didn't know how to handle it all at first, but sat down and figured out what I wanted to do and went from there. Notre Dame was the first school that I vis‑ ited after decommitting. "There was a good vibe around the program [at Ohio State], but I just had a great relationship with the pre‑ vious staff and it was hard for them and me to re‑create that." With recruiting behind him again, Goodwin's focus now shifts to the court and improving heading into his final high school season. "I would say I am a better offen‑ sive player right now," Goodwin said when asked to describe his game. "I can shoot and I feel like my ability to get other people involved is one of my best aspects." As a junior, Goodwin averaged 26.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. In 12 contests on the Nike EYBL circuit heading into the July evaluation periods, Goodwin aver‑ aged 13.0 points and 4.2 rebounds. With Goodwin, Carmody and point guard Prentiss Hubb — who pledged to the Irish in mid‑May — Notre Dame boasts not only one of the top classes in the ACC but also the country. Rivals ranks Goodwin as the No. 105 overall player nationally, which gives the Irish three commitments inside the top 105 with Hubb, of Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga, coming in at No. 62 and Carmody at No. 89. ✦ FILM ANALYSIS "I see a tough-nosed, Midwest kid who can shoot the basketball." Rivals national analyst Corey Evans said of Goodwin. "He's a good athlete and he's kept improving every step of the way, which is very important. Sometimes these guys who commit early on as freshmen, they for whatever reason stop improving. "Dane's progression rate is awesome. Ev- ery year he's getting better and better. He's eclipsing guys in the rankings every year. That kind of goes back to his work ethic and his demeanor. "Dane's pretty polished, but that definitely doesn't underrate his upside. That shows he has a higher basketball ceiling. I think his IQ and feel for the game along with his constant progression really reflects who he is and the pedigree." COMMITMENT PROFILE DANE GOODWIN "I JUST FELT I BELONGED THERE WITH THE WAY THAT I FIT IN WITH THE GUYS, THE COACHES AND STYLE OF PLAY THEY HAVE. IT WAS HOME FOR ME AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT FEW YEARS WITH THEM." GOODWIN Former Ohio State Pledge Feels At Home With Notre Dame Goodwin, a shooting guard from Upper Arlington (Ohio) High, joined Notre Dame's 2018 class after decommitting from the Buckeyes following a coaching change. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Blue and Gold Illustrated - August 2017