By John Brice
Special Contributor
MADRID — Before they donned the same uniforms, Hannah Hidalgo and Cassandre Prosper began their global representation of Notre Dame – and further stamped themselves a bit at the forefront of a new age in women’s basketball – throughout this summer. Barnstorming across continents & countries from June through August, Hidalgo and Prosper each captured international medals for their respective teams – Hidalgo, Team USA; Prosper, Team Canada.
Thing is, both players could have been seizing upon one final summer before college. Indeed, approximately nine months ago both were considered high school seniors.
Then Prosper graduated early from Canada’s Cairine Wilson Secondary School, enrolled at Notre Dame, and now has 22 career appearances for Niele Ivey’s Irish.
The precocious Hidalgo capped her prep career when she graduated from Paul VI High School in May – a record-breaking McDonald’s All-American game performance, ESPN five-star selection and Nike Hoop Summit participation in tow.
Both players enter their first complete seasons of college basketball with double-digit combined games on the global stage from their starring roles in the U19 World Cup games – and Prosper snagging additional global experience at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Leon, Mexico.
They’ve burnished both experience and knowledge beyond their years – especially after also recently completing an international tour with their Notre Dame team through Croatia and Greece.
“I think coming in mid-year, I was put under the pressure-cooker right away, and to just get into this program and make my way and perform and play with such incredible people was such a blessing,” Prosper said. “That helped me be ready for this summer.
“A lot of basketball to play and be a part of, but it was just such a blessing. Being able to play on two Canadian teams, I learned so much, especially on the senior team. Playing against and with pros and other college players. Then playing on the U19, I just a got a lot of experience. Winning two medals (for Team Canada) was really cool.”
While Prosper helped lead Canada’s teams to a pair of Bronze medals, Hidalgo had – repeating a theme from her dazzling prep career – her own record-setting performances on the international stage.
She established one new U19 Team USA record with a 13-assist show and proved equally deft on the defensive end of the court with an eight-steal outburst that also signaled a new benchmark.
“I feel like it was different experiences with each system,” Hidalgo said of a summer that saw her spend 32 days outside the United States and average 10.7 points and 5.4 assists per game for the USA squad. “It’s completely different from how I played in high school and how I will be playing in college.
“I had to change my game around to kind of fit the system for Team USA, but it was definitely more point guard, more being vocal. I learned how to be more vocal and how to run a team when overseas playing with Team USA.”
While Hidalgo’s prep performances often produced packed-out high school gymnasiums, she had seen nothing like the sold-out scene for the championship match of the U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Madrid, Spain, after Prosper had earlier helped secure Canada’s bronze.
“It was a lot, it was definitely a blessing to be put in that position to compete for a Gold medal and win, to play with girls of that type of caliber,” Hidalgo said. “It was a lot and definitely a lot of pressure, an atmosphere I’ve never experienced before, playing for the gold medal, all the yelling, still being able to be in control.
“Absolutely, it definitely has prepared me for what will come in college and we’re in all these gyms that are sold-out.”
Though Prosper, who played a crucial role as Ivey’s Irish rallied to capture the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season crown, saw her new/future teammate Hidalgo some at the international events, the lithe, 6-foot-2 wing with both guard and forward attributes points to Notre Dame’s August experience as foundational.
“I saw Hannah a couple times, but I think, really, Greece brought us closer,” Prosper said. “I love her and can’t wait to be teammates and play with her.
“She’s going to be a great asset for our team.”
Hidalgo had eyed a potential Gold-medal showdown opposite Prosper – before joining her Irish teammates full-time in their quest for the program’s next national championship.
“I was really hoping that we would be able to play them in the championship, to go against my teammate for a gold medal would’ve been fun,” Hidalgo said. “She was doing a lot to help them, averaging a lot of points.
“It’s exciting to see us Notre Dame girls traveling around the world and doing well.”