Nov. 11, 2015
Guards Nikola Djogo (Stoney Creek, Canada) and Temple (T.J.) Gibbs (Scotch Pines, New Jersey) and power forward John Mooney (Longwood, Florida) have signed their National Letters of intent today on the first day of the 2015 November early signing period. The trio is set to enroll at Notre Dame in the fall of 2016.
“Each year, we have specific needs that we need to fill,” Irish head coach Mike Brey says. “I believe we have addressed that with this year’s class and added great depth to our roster. The addition of Nikola, T.J. and John gives us a very good recruiting class. All three players have a high basketball IQ and know how to play. Most importantly, we’ve added three individuals to our program who understand our mission and want to succeed as much in the classroom as they do on the basketball court. I could not be more thrilled to welcome them to the Notre Dame basketball program and family.”
Nikola Djogo – Stony Creek, Canada
Djogo (prounounced JO-go) will be the first Canadian to play for the Fighting Irish men’s basketball program. A 6-7, 185-pound guard, Djogo has started every game during his prep career. The three-time all-state honoree has 1,930 career points, 615 rebounds and 975 assists, leading his prep teams to a combined 83-14 record. Djogo graduated from Saltfleet District High School and will play his final scholastic season at Athlete Institute in Mono, Ontario.
A member of the U17 Canadian National Team, he averaged 22.6 points, 8.0 assists and 9.4 assists in 2014-15 while earning first team all-state honors. He led his squad to the regional championship crown, a third-place finish in the state championship and a final 29-6 record.
A first team all-state selection for the third time in his career, he garnered regional MVP honors after leading his team in both scoring and assists.
As a sophomore in 2013-14, his Saltfleet squad captured the divisional championship en route to the 3A state crown and a final 35-4 record. Djogo averaged 18.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists in copping first-team all-state honors. In his freshman season, he netted 16.6 points, grabbed 4.0 rebounds and dished off 10.0 assists while earning first-team all-state accolades.
“Nikola can play any of the three guard positions,” Brey says. “He has good size and shoots the ball well. Nikola has great instincts as both a shooter and passer. He knows how to defend and has an impressive all-around skill set that fits our needs and the type of players we like to have in our program. The guys on our team are going to like playing with him.”
👀WATCH:Get to know the newest member of the @NDmbb family, signee Nicola Djogo. 🏀Follow Nik:@NikolaDjogo #NDmbb15 pic.twitter.com/o9U3BNR9yQ
— Notre Dame MBB (@NDmbb) November 11, 2015
Temple (T.J.) Gibbs – Scotch Pines, New Jersey
Gibbs hails from a basketball family. An older brother Ashton played at the University of Pittsburgh from 2008-12, while another older brother, Sterling played at Seton Hall and now is a member of the University of Connecticut basketball program.
He has enjoyed an outstanding three-year high school career at Seton Hall Prep. The 6-3, 190-pound point guard has netted 1,379 career points (17.3 ppg.), grabbed 274 rebounds (3.3 rpg.) and dished off 286 assists (3.7 aspg.) in 78 career outings (76 of them starts). Currently, he ranks fifth on the school’s all-time scoring list.
The 2014-15 Worrall Publications Player of the Year has guided his Seton Hall Prep squad to two Super Essex Conference American Division titles and two Essex County crowns in both 2015 and 2013.
As a junior, he led his team to a 25-2 record while averaging 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists and garnering second-team all-state honors. Gibbs earned first team all-Essex County accolades and MSG Varsity all-metro honors.
During his sophomore season in 2012-13, Gibbs helped his squad to an 18-6 mark and second-place finish in both the Super Essex Conference American Division and Essex County Tournament. A starter in every game, he averaged 18.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists, as well as earned Worrall Publications all-area honors and was a first team all-Essex County honoree.
Gibbs’ rookie campaign at Seton Hall Prep saw the point guard average 14.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists, as his squad finished with a 26-3 record in 2012-13. He also earned Worrall Publications all-area honors and second team all-Essex County accolades.
“T.J. will give us considerable depth at the point guard position,” Brey says. “He’s a great competitor and displays toughness on the court. T.J. has a great pedigree and played for a top high school program and AAU team. I like that he is physically and mentally ready to play at this level.”
👀WATCH:Get to know the newest member of the @NDmbb family, signee Temple Gibbs. 🏀Follow TJ:@Tempppp12 #NDmbb15 pic.twitter.com/WGPdGmZ8rb
— Notre Dame MBB (@NDmbb) November 11, 2015
John Mooney – Longwood, Florida
Mooney, a 6-9, 240-pound forward, has averaged 18.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists during his career at Lake Brantley High School and started all 81 games of his prep career. A two-time first team Seminole County all-conference selection in 2014-15 and 2013-14 and a second-team honoree in 2012-13, Mooney copped Seminole County Player of the Year accolades following the 2013-14 campaign and was runner-up for the honor following the 2014-15 season.
The two-time MVP at Lake Brantley has served as team captain each of the last two seasons.
As a junior, Mooney averaged 18.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 30 contests while leading his squad to a final 23-7 mark. He averaged 24.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in a 15-11 campaign during his sophomore season. A three-year starter at Lake Brantley, he averaged 13.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in his rookie campaign in 2012-13.
Mooney also has been a member of the Nike Team Florida AAU squad since 2010-14.
“John is the face-up four guy that has been so valuable to our program over the years,” Brey says. “He is a highly skilled offensive and defensive player. John sees the floor extremely well, passes the ball well and is a good shooter. I love what he is going to bring to our program.”
👀WATCH:Get to know the newest member of the @NDmbb family, signee John Mooney. 🏀Follow John:@jmoon32 #NDmbb15 pic.twitter.com/FNoh0vMQxt
— Notre Dame MBB (@NDmbb) November 11, 2015
By Bernadette Cafarelli, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications