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Four-star center Gan-Erdene Solongo commits to Notre Dame

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•06/09/25•

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Gan-Erdene Solongo by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --
Gan-Erdene Solongo (Mick Walker/Lettermen Row)

For the second-straight cycle, Notre Dame men’s basketball has secured a four-star center. This time, it’s La Porte (Ind.) La Lumiere big man Gan-Erdene Solongo.

Solongo announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Monday. The Irish hope Solongo and Tommy Ahneman, their center in the 2025 cycle, can form a tandem in the front court for years to come.

“I chose Notre Dame because I love Coach [Micah] Shrewsberry’s style of play and how much he focuses on player development,” Solongo told Tipton. “Coach Shrews and the whole staff truly care — they treat players like family and always push to help us grow, on and off the court.”

Solongo, a true 7-footer, is On3’s No. 99 player and No. 14 center in the 2026 class. On3 is the only recruiting service who has ranked Solongo, who is relatively new to basketball in the United States. He started playing basketball in his home country of Mongolia at age 14, according to The Tennesseean, moving to the U.S. at 15.

Solongo is a dual citizen of Mongolia and Ireland, as the son of a Mongolian mother and an Irish father. He will be the second Irish citizen to ever play for Notre Dame men’s basketball, following Ron Rowan.

Eventually, he found a home in Michigan with Jenn and Jon Sanderson who became his legal guardians. Jon Sanderson is Notre Dame’s director of men’s basketball strength and conditioning, moving to South Bend from Vanderbilt on May 10.

His adoptive brother then became Jonathan Sanderson, who is also committed to Notre Dame in the 2026 class.

“So in the past two years I’ve been living with them and it’s been really impactful for me,” Solongo told Lettermen Row reporter Mick Walker in February. “His dad is a strength and conditioning coach and he helped me with my a lot of like physicality, coordination and athleticism in basketball. Also like it’s a huge basketball family so I’m just around basketball all the time and it helps me a lot.”

Living with the Sandersons, Solongo played at Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth for his junior season. He averaged 12.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game with the Tigers. Shortly after Notre Dame announced its hiring of Jon Sanderson as its strength coach, Solongo announced his commitment to play his senior season at La Lumiere.

Gan-Erdene Solongo scouting report, from On3’s Jamie Shaw

“Gan-Erdene Solongo is a big, physical specimen. He grew up playing volleyball and is newer to basketball. He is an upside play, but someone who has a pretty significant ceiling. 

“Solongo moves well for a player at his size. He has athleticism around the rim with an ability to catch and finish/dunk in traffic. He has legit size and is a naturally big person. He should be able to continue adding good weight which should help with his leverage and balance. Again, he is newer to the game, so he will need time and reps, but there is very intriguing upside there.”

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