The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have seen two-sport athletes throughout their sports. There are a handful of names that come to mind, such as Jordan Faison, Dylan Faison, and Pat Connaughton, but there is another name preparing to join that list: Mark Zackery IV. The freshman has already played this season for the football program, but is also getting prepared for the basketball team as well. Let’s take a closer look at what his coach said about his abilities.
Mark Zackery IV is ready to be the next Notre Dame 2-sport athlete
Notre Dame Fighting Irish men’s basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry discussed the conversation he had with football coach Marcus Freeman about having Mark Zackery IV on the basketball roster. He would explain how he is looking out for Zackery rather than only his team.
“The first question I asked Coach [Marcus] Freeman was, ‘Is this going to affect him in any way for next year?… I’m not being selfish. I want this kid to have a great career at Notre Dame, not help me.”
Zackary is expected to provide impact on both sports. He would play cornerback and record 10 total tackles (seven solo, three assisted) with a pair of pass deflections this season. Zackary is yet to make an appearance for the basketball program, but is expected to get some action soon for the Fighting Irish.
He is expected to play a solid role for the team when he gets on the floor. The program has had incredible success already this year, going 9-3 and riding a four-game winning streak. It never hurts to add another talent to bolster the team. Coach Shrewsberry gave a glowing review of his ability on the court in the announcement of his addition.
“I think that Mark will be a great addition to our program. I have seen him play many times throughout his high school career. Whether competing with Team Teague, Indiana Elite, or Ben Davis High School, he always does things that help lead to winning. He will be an asset for us with his ball handling, playmaking, and defensive abilities. More importantly, he is a great young man that will add more value to our locker room and culture.”
Notre Dame is adding a 5-11 guard who showcased his skills. He averaged 11.0 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game for the Indiana state runner-up last year. He also was shooting an outstanding 39.4 percent from the 3-point line. It will be intriguing to see how long it takes for Zackary to crack the rotation of the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame expected to leave the ACC
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