Doherty's First Class A Success
Frank Vitovitch
November 15, 1999

Notre Dame, Ind - Matt Doherty was surrounded with terrific talent while at the Kansas University throughout his tenure as an assistant under Roy Williams, and Doherty played a big role in getting that talent.  Coach Doherty is generally regarded as a great recruiter and he used that ability to sign a solid class this year.

The class is not a top 10 class, but the talent in it is sound.  The class is the first building block Doherty has laid in rebuilding the Notre Dame basketball program.  He already has a strong sophomore and freshman class this year, so adding this year's class just adds on to the young talent the Irish have.

The class is made up of three players - two guards and one center.  Center is a weak spot for the Irish who currently only have one scholarship center and that is freshman Ivan Kartelo whom the Irish got last year from Croatia.   The center Doherty landed this year Tom Timmermans also comes from outside the United States.  Timmermans is a native of Driehuis, Netherlands.  Timmermans played high school basketball at Blue Ridge in Dyke, Virginia.  While there he averaged 12.5 points per game and 10 rebounds a game for the #3 ranked independent high school in Virginia.

Next, the Irish got a national letter of intent from Torrian Jones, a 6-4, 185-pound guard from Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.  Torrian is a versatile player who Doherty can play at either the point or shooting guard.  He averaged 17 points a game in his senior season.  He stepped his game up when it counted as well averaging 22 points a game in the playoffs for Pennsbury High School.   Torrian is a solid player who can play three positions because of his size.

The other guard signed by the Irish was Chris Markwood.   Markwood is 6-5, 185-pound guard from South Portland, Maine.  Of the three players in this year's class, Markwood is probably the best.  In his senior season Chris averaged 21.5 points, 6.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 4 steals a game garnering first team all state honors. Markwood is another player who can play more than one position and at 6-5 he is taller than almost any other point guard. 

The class is not going to be on anyone's top 10 list or top 20 lists most likely, but it accomplished its goal - it gave Doherty something to work with.  Add in the fact that Doherty has not even been on the job a year yet and this class is a big success.  Along with this class, the Irish will get Ryan Humphrey who transferred from Oklahoma.  Ryan was a McDonald's All American out of high school.   He will sit out this year because of NCAA rules, but will still have two years of eligibility left at ND.  Unlike the three players in this class who are solid with versatility, Humphrey adds some flash.  He can make a difference and will make an immediate and huge impact on the Irish campaign in the 2000-01 season.

Matt Doherty still has one scholarship left as well. This scholarship can be used this Spring or the Irish can use it in next year's recruiting campaign. Point guard and center may be two positions the Irish want to go after. Markwood and Jones can both play the point, but they have the size that would make the better for shooting guard, and getting a good ball handler is good for any team. As for center, Timmermans and Kartelo are the only two centers on the team and both are young and somewhat raw. Getting a center who is athletic and can play right away could also help.