Notre Dame, Purdue sign 4 each

By TOM COYNE, AP Sports Writer

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By Beth Boehne

SOUTH BEND (AP) — Ninth-ranked Notre Dame and No. 11 Purdue, both looking to build on back-to-back NCAA appearances, each signed four high school seniors to letters of intent on Wednesday.

The Boilermakers signed four in-state players: Patrick Bade, 6-foot-8 forward from Indianapolis Franklin Central; Kelsey Barlow, a 6-6 guard from Indianapolis Cathedral; D.J. Byrd, a 6-4 guard from North Montgomery in Crawfordsville; and Jeff Robinson, a 6-9 forward from Lawrence North.

"There's nothing like recruiting with winning games," Painter said Wednesday. "There's no doubt that when you are able to recruit a good class and it leads to immediate success from your team, it helps in your future recruiting."

The Fighting Irish signed three 6-9 players — Jack Cooley of Glenview, Ill., Mike Broghammer of Orono, Minn., Tom Knight of Dixfield, Maine — and 6-5 guard Joey Brooks of Houston.

"I feel very good about the needs we filled," Irish coach Mike Brey said. "The three bigger kids fill needs at all different styles and the guard we got in Joey Brooks we feel fills a need, an athletic, slashing wing."

Indiana doesn't plan to announce its signees until Thursday.

Among other signings Wednesday, Butler landed 6-foot-10 center Andrew Smith of Covenant Christian in Indianapolis, the only player the Bulldogs expect to add during the fall signing period.

"Andrew not only has great size and ability, but he combines that with very good basketball instincts and athleticism," Butler coach Brad Stevens said.

Smith averaged 14.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots last season.

At Purdue, Painter said his staff focuses on getting the top talent from Indiana high schools.

"To get four quality players from the state of Indiana is a plus for our program," he said. "That's what we have to continue to do, is get guys who are able to come into our program and continue in a positive direction."

They'll join a team that will likely return all its starters from the upcoming season. Painter said the mentality of the class was important because the newcomers might not see playing time immediately.

"You've got to try to recruit guys who will embrace that competition and will come here and try to help us win a championship," he said.

Bade creates mismatches because he's big enough to defend the post but skilled enough to shoot the 3-pointer, Painter said. Barlow is a versatile player who can be a shutdown defender. Painter described Robinson as a player with "unbelievable potential." D.J. Byrd is an all-around player with exceptional range, he said.

It was the second straight year the Boilermakers recruited successfully inside the state. Last year, the Boilermakers signed in-state players E'Twaun Moore, Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson and Scott Martin. Moore, Hummel and Johnson are now starters, and Martin contributed significant minutes before deciding to transfer to Notre Dame.

Brey said the Irish needed to sign four players because they'll lose forwards Ryan Ayers, Zach Hillesland and Luke Zeller and guard Kyle McAlarney after this season. Also joining the Irish next year are Martin and guard Ben Hansbrough, who transferred to the Irish after helping Mississippi State advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament last season.

While some Big East schools sign players they know will stay in school only a year or two, Brey's goal is to try to recruit players who will stay four years and develop, Brey said.

"When guys are taking the floor for us they're older," he said. "They've been in the system a while. That's an advantage for us in the league because we play against some really talented teams, but they're playing with young guys, young special players, kids who are going to maybe be one-year guys."

Brey described Cooley as a physical player who is a center.

"You do need some guys to just go beat the heck out of people in the paint and I really believe he can do that. I think he's mentally and physically ready to help us early," Brey said.

Broghammer is another physical player, but he can also stop outside and shoot. Knight is a left-handed player whom Brey describes as crafty, saying his stock rose over the summer. Brey described Brooks as a gifted athlete who is a strong defender.

He said all four players have high basketball IQs.

"A very good class. I think it will rank high in the Big East and in the top 20 in the nation when all the results are in," said recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons of All-Star Sports.

RJ Mahurin, a 6-foot-8 forward from Rockville High School signed at Indiana State.

___

AP Sports Writer Cliff Brunt in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

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