Guards Katlyn Gilbert, Abby Prohaska and Jordan Nixon, along with post Danielle Cosgrove all signed their national letters of intent over the past two days. The Notre Dame quartet was ranked as the No. 6 recruiting class in the country by espnW HoopGurlz. Baylor had the No. 1 class with a quintet of five stars rated from No. 6 to No. 28 in the country.
The Irish do not have any guards in the current freshman class, and one in the sophomore class (Jackie Young), so re-stocking the backcourt was a priority.
"I think we addressed our needs with the addition of three guards," Coach McGraw explained. "Ultimately, a top-10 ranked class who can come in, and play, and help us right away, was really important for us. Also, to have the perimeter scoring ability of all four of them was key."
KATLYN GILBERT
A 5'10 guard, hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, Gilbert ranked 25th overall in the Class of 2018 and sixth at the position.
In her first two seasons at Heritage Christian School, Gilbert led her squad to back-to-back Class 3A State championships. Now, Gilbert is coming off her best season, averaging 16.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a junior, while shooting 52.0 percent from the floor.
"Katlyn is a very smooth player," Coach McGraw explained. "She reminds me of Kayla McBride (who will be inducted into the Ring Of Honor during this Saturday's opener vs. Mount St. Mary's). She is someone that can score, rebound, run the floor and defend. Just a gifted athlete with a promising future."
ABBY PROHASKA
A 5'10 left-handed guard from Liberty Township, Ohio, Prohaska ranks 78th overall and 20th by position. Prohaska attends Lakota West High School, where she led the Firebirds to a 24-3 season as a junior, reaching the Division I Regional Semifinals, before being named an AP Division I All-State honoree. Prohaska averaged 11.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 3.5 assists along the way, as the latter tied the school record set back in 2006.
If there is a recent Irish player to compare her to it would be 2012-16 guard Hannah Huffman, a defensive demon who always provided instant hustle.
"Abby brings a tremendous amount of energy," Coach McGraw said. "She is a great team player because she is someone you can count on to take a charge, dive for loose balls and set the tone defensively. You like having her on the court because she does so many little things well. She can drive, she can pass, she can shoot, so she's just an all-around talented player."
JORDAN NIXON
A 5'8 point guard living in New York, New York, Nixon is ranked 56th overall and 12th by position. Nixon attends the Mary Louis Academy, which should sound familiar to Notre Dame fans, as McDonald's All-American and current freshman Danielle Patterson graduated from there.
Alongside Patterson, Nixon led Mary Louis to three titles - the 2017 Borough, City and State Championship, as the latter marked the school's first ever New York State Catholic School `AA' Championship. Nixon had 21 points and 12 rebounds in the final. Nixon averaged 20.1 points, 8.0 assists and 10 rebounds as a junior. This summer, Nixon led her iEXCEL AAU team to three national titles at the Nike Chicago tournament, the Basketball on the Bayou in New Orleans, and the Nike Tournament of Champions in Atlanta.
With Lili Thompson in her final season of eligibility this year, Nixon could take over the point guard duties when she enrolls in 2018-19, although current junior Marina Mabrey also could shift there.
"Jordan was the final piece of the puzzle that we were missing, in the point guard position," Coach McGraw stated. "She's going to be counted on to step in right away and lead our team. She's a very mature, intelligent, high basketball IQ player, who will look to take over the reins of running this team."
DANIELLE COSGROVE
A 6'4 forward from Holbrook, New York, Cosgrove is ranked 64th overall and 12th by position. Attending Sachem East High School, Cosgrove led the Flaming Arrows in scoring for each of the past three seasons, averaging a double-double as a junior with 17.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
In addition, Cosgrove plays for the Philadelphia Belles, and in 2016, participated alongside her fellow Irish Class of 2018 signees at the USA U17 Team Trials.
"Danielle brings a lot of versatility," Coach McGraw said. "She's a 6-4 post that can shoot three's from deep. She's a great shooter, can pass, rebound well and score inside. She's going to fit inside our offense extremely well."
The Irish do not have any guards in the current freshman class, and one in the sophomore class (Jackie Young), so re-stocking the backcourt was a priority.
"I think we addressed our needs with the addition of three guards," Coach McGraw explained. "Ultimately, a top-10 ranked class who can come in, and play, and help us right away, was really important for us. Also, to have the perimeter scoring ability of all four of them was key."
KATLYN GILBERT
A 5'10 guard, hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, Gilbert ranked 25th overall in the Class of 2018 and sixth at the position.
In her first two seasons at Heritage Christian School, Gilbert led her squad to back-to-back Class 3A State championships. Now, Gilbert is coming off her best season, averaging 16.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a junior, while shooting 52.0 percent from the floor.
"Katlyn is a very smooth player," Coach McGraw explained. "She reminds me of Kayla McBride (who will be inducted into the Ring Of Honor during this Saturday's opener vs. Mount St. Mary's). She is someone that can score, rebound, run the floor and defend. Just a gifted athlete with a promising future."
ABBY PROHASKA
A 5'10 left-handed guard from Liberty Township, Ohio, Prohaska ranks 78th overall and 20th by position. Prohaska attends Lakota West High School, where she led the Firebirds to a 24-3 season as a junior, reaching the Division I Regional Semifinals, before being named an AP Division I All-State honoree. Prohaska averaged 11.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 3.5 assists along the way, as the latter tied the school record set back in 2006.
If there is a recent Irish player to compare her to it would be 2012-16 guard Hannah Huffman, a defensive demon who always provided instant hustle.
"Abby brings a tremendous amount of energy," Coach McGraw said. "She is a great team player because she is someone you can count on to take a charge, dive for loose balls and set the tone defensively. You like having her on the court because she does so many little things well. She can drive, she can pass, she can shoot, so she's just an all-around talented player."
JORDAN NIXON
A 5'8 point guard living in New York, New York, Nixon is ranked 56th overall and 12th by position. Nixon attends the Mary Louis Academy, which should sound familiar to Notre Dame fans, as McDonald's All-American and current freshman Danielle Patterson graduated from there.
Alongside Patterson, Nixon led Mary Louis to three titles - the 2017 Borough, City and State Championship, as the latter marked the school's first ever New York State Catholic School `AA' Championship. Nixon had 21 points and 12 rebounds in the final. Nixon averaged 20.1 points, 8.0 assists and 10 rebounds as a junior. This summer, Nixon led her iEXCEL AAU team to three national titles at the Nike Chicago tournament, the Basketball on the Bayou in New Orleans, and the Nike Tournament of Champions in Atlanta.
With Lili Thompson in her final season of eligibility this year, Nixon could take over the point guard duties when she enrolls in 2018-19, although current junior Marina Mabrey also could shift there.
"Jordan was the final piece of the puzzle that we were missing, in the point guard position," Coach McGraw stated. "She's going to be counted on to step in right away and lead our team. She's a very mature, intelligent, high basketball IQ player, who will look to take over the reins of running this team."
DANIELLE COSGROVE
A 6'4 forward from Holbrook, New York, Cosgrove is ranked 64th overall and 12th by position. Attending Sachem East High School, Cosgrove led the Flaming Arrows in scoring for each of the past three seasons, averaging a double-double as a junior with 17.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
In addition, Cosgrove plays for the Philadelphia Belles, and in 2016, participated alongside her fellow Irish Class of 2018 signees at the USA U17 Team Trials.
"Danielle brings a lot of versatility," Coach McGraw said. "She's a 6-4 post that can shoot three's from deep. She's a great shooter, can pass, rebound well and score inside. She's going to fit inside our offense extremely well."
