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We continue our season preview coverage with Notre Dame FR F Sam Brunelle. Even though the Irish lost the NCAA title game last April by 1 PT and then lost all 5 of their starters, the future looks bright thanks to a pair of fabulous freshmen in Anaya Peoples/Sam Brunelle. Sam has won so many awards/titles/events over the past few years that it is hard to keep up: 3 gold medals with Team USA, Virginia high school Player of the Year, and even the 3-PT contest at the 2019 McDonald’s All-American game. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Sam about winning a gold medal and having a brand-new starting lineup.
You won a gold medal at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal, and which of your teammates impressed you the most (Fran Belibi/Azzi Fudd/Jordan Horston/other)? I always love playing for USA Basketball and have been fortunate to play for 4 different teams. It is hard to put into words because it is so special and means a lot. I enjoy playing with the best of the best and all of my teammates will do great wherever they go.
You won the 2019 McDonald’s High School All-American 3-PT contest: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? Shooters shoot! I was pretty nervous but just let it fly and it worked out for me. I trust in what I know.
You missed half of your senior season at William Monroe High School due to a broken left foot: how is your health doing at the moment? I am doing amazing and should never have a problem with that foot again: I have been 100% for awhile.
You had a 4.15 GPA in high school: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? It involves being good at time management. It is a challenge here because college is a whole other challenge but the upperclassmen are helping me through it.
You grew up in Virginia: what made you choose Notre Dame, and what was your reaction when they fell 1 PT short of beating Baylor in the title game last April? There are so many reasons I choose to come here. I committed in April of my junior year because it was the most perfect situation that I have ever been in. As far as Baylor, you cannot win them all but every single starter got drafted so it just shows how much talent they had.
What makes Muffet McGraw such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? I love Coach. She told me that the Notre Dame decision is not just for the next 4 years but for the next 40 years as well. She empowers women and stands up for equal rights by using her platform so well to inspire others. She has a lot of confidence in me, which is a great thing for me to have and I will keep earning her trust.
The Irish lost their entire starting 5 from last year leave: how will you try to replace all of that offense/leadership? The team we have now is a new group: we are all trying to figure things out but have amazing chemistry both on an off the court. We are definitely going to be a special team and have such a great variety of players that we will be able to do so many things.
I know that the season has not even started yet, but how excited are you to spend Thanksgiving in Mexico? I always love to travel but have never been to Mexico so it should be fun…but we are going there to take care of business.
Your father Rod played minor league baseball and your mother Katie won a basketball regional championship (which was the last 1 at your high school until you won 1 yourself last spring): who is the best athlete in the family? I would vote for myself but both of my parents were very athletic so I got a great mixture there.
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I hope that I can make a big impact this year by doing whatever the coaches want me to do. Hopefully we can get back to the places we were before but will just take it day by day. I am excited for it and hope to make some special things happen during my time here.