Elite Point Guards Headed To South Bend



Notre Dame mentor Muffet McGraw is enjoying success on the court and recruiting trail. Photo by John Dlugolecki.

Coaches know that having an elite point guard is critical to success on the collegiate level. About the only thing better than one superb floor leader is having two, and that’s what Muffet McGraw and Notre Dame will enjoy in the coming years.

Mychal Johnson, a Class of 2014 standout from Huntington, W.Va., has verbally committed to the Fighting Irish, and McGraw recently added a commitment from 2015 prospect Ali Patburg from Columbus, Ind.

The All Star Girls Report has Johnson listed as the No. 32 recruit in her class, while Patburg is ranked at No. 10 for the 2015 group.

“Mychal is one of the most fundamentally sound, intelligent players you will see,” said ASGR analyst Bret McCormick. “If you were going to make an instructional video, she would be a good player to use as a model. She is also just an unbelievable kid who loves the game of basketball. On the court, she does whatever her team needs to win.

“Ali also has a great basketball IQ. She just knows how to play the game. I think she is a good fit for Notre Dame. She can score, but she knows that it’s important to involve her teammates. She has a nice shot, and I think her shooting range will improve. I think she could slide to the 2 guard spot if they needed her there.”