After earning their first NCAA Tournament appearance last season since the nationally ranked squad of 2017, Notre Dame and its head coach Mike Brey have returned most of the program’s key pieces while adding three freshman prospects including a 5-star recruit.
However, with top scorer Blake Wesley being selected in the NBA Draft and veteran forward Paul Atkinson – the 2019-20 Ivy League Player of the Year who transferred to Notre Dame – starting a pro career of his own overseas, the Fighting Irish added just one transfer piece in standout guard Marcus Hammond.
Hammond arrives in South Bend after four seasons spent in the MAAC with Niagara finishing his senior campaign averaging 18.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 2.9 APG while shooting 37% on three-point attempts and being selected to the All-Conference First-Team.
For his overall career with the Purple Eagles, Hammond has managed a very solid 12.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 2.5 APG having also earned an All-MAAC First-Team selection as a sophomore and a Second-Team selection as a junior while Niagara missed out on an NCAA Tournament bid all three season.
With the program losing its leading scorer from a season ago, the Queens, NY native looks set to be an impact starter for Notre Dame from game one of this upcoming season as the Irish will need major offensive production to improve on last year and Hammond is one of the guys who can supply it.
The second-highest scorer per game in the MAAC last season and contributing the conference’s second-most points for the year, Hammond is a highly effective offensive piece who will provide scoring from all over the floor and will add another veteran presence to the Notre Dame locker room.
With just one season of eligibility remaining expect Hammond to play an influential role and continue to bring the offensive firepower as the Irish and Brey seek back-to-back tournament bids and a return to ACC prominence.
