Notre Dame one of six finalists for five-star 2025 Kentucky guard

Notre Dame is projected to have a big 2024-25 season, but the question is whether 2025-26 and beyond will be special. If the Irish have their way, one addition to their roster will make things a lot easier.

Zakiyah Johnson, a five-star guard from Kentucky, is projected by multiple sites as the best 2025 recruit in her state. She’s been named the Gatorade Kentucky Girls Basketball Player of the Year three years in a row. And she’s listed Notre Dame as one of the six programs to make her final cut:

When asked by On3 what she liked about each program, Johnson said this about the Irish:

“It’s all girl coaches – I like the way they run their program. I’m also really big on fashion, and I think they do a really good job with it. Coach [Niele] Ivey is very sweet, and Coach [Michaela] Mabrey is very sweet. I can kind of connect with them because they’re younger. It’s really just a vibe you have to be there to feel.”

Let’s hope the vibe is strong enough to lead her to South Bend.

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