Notre Dame men’s basketball signee Brady Dunlap requests release from letter of intent
One of Notre Dame’s three 2023 signees intends to explore his options following the news of Mike Brey’s impending departure as head coach. He began the process of doing so Tuesday.
Studio City (Calif.) Harvard-Westlake three-star wing Brady Dunlap requested a released from his letter of intent Tuesday, he told On3 national basketball recruiting analyst Joe Tipton.
“Due to the announcement of Coach Brey’s retirement, I have requested my release from Notre Dame and will open my recruitment,” Dunlap said. “I want to wish Coach Brey well and thank [assistant] coach Antoni Wyche for all of his efforts in recruiting me.”
The 6-foot-7, 180-pound Dunlap is the No. 149 overall player in the 2023 On3 Consensus. On3’s own rankings slot him at No. 75 overall, though, and rate him as a four-star prospect. He originally chose Notre Dame Sept. 22 over finalists San Diego State, Colorado, Nebraska, Providence and Rice. He visited San Diego State and Notre Dame in September. The Irish offered him in August.
Dunlap averaged 16.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game over five outings for Strive For Greatness (CA) on the Nike EYBL Circuit this past summer. He played for Vegas Elite – also an EYBL team – during the spring AAU season and averaged 10.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in eight games, shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 42.4 percent on 3-pointers.
“He’s a big-time shooter from a great high school program,” Brey said on signing day.
Dunlap is the son of longtime Division I men’s basketball assistant coach Jeff Dunlap. He moved to Southern California in 2018, when his father was hired as an assistant coach at Cal State Northridge (he is no longer on staff there). The elder Dunlap also spent six seasons coaching in the ACC at North Carolina State from 2011-17.
Notre Dame announced Thursday that Brey will step aside as head coach after the season, ending his 23-year run. The Irish (9-11, 1-8 ACC) have 11 regular-season games left and play at North Carolina State Tuesday night.
Notre Dame’s other two 2023 signees are Bixby (Okla.) four-star guard Parker Friedrichsen and Mishawaka (Ind.) Penn three-star guard Markus Burton. The former is the No. 116 player in the consensus, while the latter is ranked No. 147.
All three signed their letters of intent in November. Brey has spoken with each of them and each family since his departure was announced. His advice to them was to stay the course and meet his replacement before making any decisions on proceeding with Notre Dame or asking for a release.
“My No. 1 thing with the parents was, ‘Just don’t knee-jerk,’” Brey said. “Just finish your high school season, let us get in the process of hiring a new coach and meet with him.”
