Nov. 13--SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- When Notre Dame moved to the ACC, coach Mike Brey figured it would open up more recruiting avenues for his program.
Just not in California.
But Wednesday, the Irish signed guard Rex Pflueger from Dana Point, Calif, as one of three recruits in the Class of 2015. The Irish also signed forward Elijah Burns from Troy, N.Y., and forward Matt Ryan from Cortland Manor, N.Y.
"We wondered at times last year would he ever really leave the West Coast?" Brey said "And I've always tried to be very realistic about the time we've spent out west. Because we've invested at times and at the end of the day they just won't leave the West Coast."
Wednesday was national signing day and it was also the first day Brey could comment publicly about his recruits. The 6-foot-4 Pflueger is "extremely athletic" Brey said and should fit well in Brey's system.
"He's that kind of wing guard that has a great feel for the game, has the ability to slash and finish around the basketball because of his athletic ability," Brey said. "Solid shooter who will only get better. He's an excellent defender. Can really move his feet and defend and a competitive kid."
Ryan, Brey said, could rank among some of the great shooters Brey has had come through his program. Ryan has been recovering from hip surgery and did not play on the AAU circuit this summer. Brey said he is not concerned Ryan's hip injuries will be long term.
"I don't think there's a better shooter in the class," Brey said. "No one got to see him much in the last year so people have forgotten about him a little bit. What makes him such a potent shooter is he's 6-8, he shoots over the top of people. We've had a lot of great shooters in my tenure here and he'll be right there with any of them."
Burns, a 6-8 forward, rounds out the class and has traits similar to former Notre Dame forward Ty Nash, Brey said.
"He's physically put together but a really good feel for the game," Brey said. "The thing that impressed me this summer was how great a passer he is. He can really see the floor and pass the ball."
Notre Dame opens its regular season Friday at home against Binghamton.
