Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class set to redefine the program’s future with top 10 national ranking
Notre Dame made shockwaves in the 2025 college basketball recruitment field as it secured the commitment of four-star center Tommy Ahneman on Monday, September 30. Ahneman is the fourth high school prospect to commit for coach Micah Shrewsberry, moving Notre Dame up the college recruitment rankings to No. 7 as per On3.
Ahneman, the reigning North Dakota Gatorade State Player of the Year, is a 6-foot-10 center who is an old-school center. He primarily works on the paint and has strong rebounding abilities. He averaged 28 points and 17 rebounds in the past season.
Shrewsberry already has five-star small forward Jalen Haralson, four-star small forward Ryder Frost and power forward Brady Koehler committing for the 2025-26 college basketball season.
These players have already redefined the program's future with a few months remaining in the recruitment cycle. It allowed the ACC school to be a primary destination for incoming freshmen, and Shrewsberry's track record of developing first year players could play a factor in this equation.
Last season, the 48-year-old bench tactician helped Markus Burton win the 2024 ACC Freshman of the Year. This season, Notre Dame is ranked 26th in the composite recruitment rankings after securing the commitments of three freshmen and two transfers.
Myers Park product Sir Mohammed leads Notre Dame's freshman class. The 6-foot-7 small forward is the 47th-best player in the nation and is No. 6 in the small forward rankings.
Meanwhile, Cole Certa and Garrett Sundra came from reputable programs in IMG Academy and Paul VI Catholic, respectively — meaning Shrewsberry had another quality freshman haul for the 2024-25 season.
Notre Dame has fired the initial shot in terms of 2025 college recruitment. The commitments of Haralson, Frost, Koehler and Ahneman have set the tone for a busy high school recruitment season next year.
Notre Dame prepares for the 2024-25 season
Notre Dame is in the thick of its preparations for the 2024-25 college basketball season. They are undergoing rigid training and scrimmages to get themselves ready for the start of their new campaign.
In August, the Fighting Irish organized a 10-day tour of Spain where they played three exhibition games against second- and third-tier professional squads in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona. Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry opted to sit on the sidelines for most of the trip, allowing his assistant coaches to call the shots.
After lopsided games in Madrid and Valencia, the Fighting Irish had a close call in Barcelona, but in the end, they won by two points. Shrewsberry tried to stay silent during those games, but couldn't keep himself from being an observer, especially in their last two games where the matches were tight. He stood up and coached like he usually does.
“I spent a lot of time getting up and walking down there toward the front. I apologize for it. I’m sorry. I can’t just sit here and not do anything. I still gotta be me," he said per South Bend Tribune.
The Fighting Irish will have an exhibition game on Oct. 30 against Purdue Fort Wayne before opening their regular season at home against Stonehill on Nov. 6.