Takeaways from Las Vegas Border League: Time for 'Run-DMC' at Notre Dame

The eyesight was there. A bit fuzzy. The photo came into focus in a couple tantalizing minutes.

There was the golden-haired forward managing, hop-stepping, firing a lookaway move to the sweet-capturing stage guard for a corner three-pointer. There was the taking pictures guard pushing the pace on a speedy break, levitating, windmilling, lights up the gym. And there have been all three on the sideline, grinning, sipping from Gatorade cups, amassing such a guide their night ended early.

When previous 5-star prospect Ziaire Williams — now with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies — remaining Sherman Oaks Notre Dame for Chatsworth Sierra Canyon in 2019, the Knights had a “complete program reset,” boys’ basketball mentor Matt Sargeant claimed. Gloom trickled in.

Would they ever get a participant like that yet again?

Then Houston dedicate Mercy Miller strolled with father Learn P into Notre Dame’s cafeteria in March to incredulous murmurs from Notre Dame gamers. Miller’s good friend and Duke commit Caleb Foster followed. Now, along with senior Dusty Stromer, Notre Dame is on the lookout at a triumvirate of expertise largely unmatched in Southern California prep hoops.

“Run DMC,” Miller stated, grinning and pointing first at the Stromer, then himself, then Foster. “Dusty. Mercy. Caleb.”

Stromer, the Gonzaga dedicate who’s reworked from a 3-issue specialist into a do-anything ahead. Miller, the significant-flying taking pictures guard from Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. And Foster, also from Oak Hill, the unassuming blue-chip flooring typical and now best-rated senior recruit in California.

“I feel like we ain’t got no ceiling, male,” Miller claimed, with a nod and smile from Stromer.

The Border League preseason event in Las Vegas provided a opportunity for best Southern California packages like Notre Dame to tinker with new expertise and get a glimpse into how offseason transfers will transform the dynamic of Southern Part boys’ basketball.

The most important takeaways: