Busting Brackets
Fansided

Notre Dame Basketball: Top 15 Players to Play for Head Coach Mike Brey

By Tristan Freeman

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
NEW YORK – MARCH 10: Luke Harangody #44 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after a point against the Seton Hall Pirates during the second round of 2010 NCAA Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – MARCH 10: Luke Harangody #44 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after a point against the Seton Hall Pirates during the second round of 2010 NCAA Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Images) /

5. Troy Murphy – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1999-2001)

Career stats: 21.4 ppg 9.8 rpg 1.7 apg

A two-time Big East Player of the Year and All-American, Murphy isn’t higher on this list solely because he played just one season with Brey, compared with the four-year starts that are coming up. But the 6’11 forward was one of, if not the best big men at the start of the new millennium. He averaged 21.8 ppg and 9.2 rpg his only year with Brey, which actually was less than his monster sophomore campaign.

4. Jerian Grant – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2012-2015)

Career stats: 14.6 ppg 2.9 rpg 5.8 apg

An All-Conference player in both the Big East and ACC, Grant overcame academic issues to have an All-American senior season. He averaged a team-high 16.5 ppg and 5.7 apg and had 15 points and six assists in the near upset against then-undefeated Kentucky.

3. Mike Pegues – Delaware Blue Hens – (1997-2000)

Career stats: 16.5 ppg 6.4 rpg 2.1 apg

Pegues was with Brey all four seasons at Delaware, winning the America East Conference Player of the Year in 1999. He averaged around 21.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg his final two seasons in college. Pegues’ play helped made Brey a hot name around that time, with Notre Dame needing a new coach. He may not have been the best player that Brey has ever had, but arguably the most important.

2. Luke Harangody – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2007-2010)

Career stats: 19.2 ppg 9.5 rpg 1.6 apg

In my opinion, there’s a pretty large gap between the top two players and the rest of the list. Harangody had an incredible final three seasons, averaging over 20 ppg each season while racking up countless double-doubles. He was awarded the Big East Player of the Year in his sophomore campaign, with a few All-American selections.

1. Chris Thomas – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2002-2005)

Career stats: 17.1 ppg 4.1 rpg 6.5 apg

While Harangody is legendary in Notre Dame history, Thomas is considered to be one of the best point guards ever to play in college basketball. He’s the Fighting Irish’s all-time leader in assists, and one of just a few players to record over 2,000 points and 800 assists. He was a great scorer as well as a facilitator while being an underrated rebounder.

Next: Ranking the current statuses of the old Big East teams

Even being plagued with knee issues his senior year, Thomas still managed to put up All-Conference numbers. He started all 128 games in his career, and never played less than 37 mpg. Many of his records have yet to be broken and based on players leaving earlier these days, they could be around for a while.

Home/Notre Dame Fighting Irish