College Notebook: Connaughton shining at Notre Dame

CHESTNUT HILL – St. John?s Prep alum Patrick Connaughton returned home this past weekend, leading Notre Dame to victory over Boston College at Conte Forum on Saturday.
?It?s great to be home,” said Connaughton, whose No. 10 ranked Fighting Irish defeated the Eagles, 87-70. “But at the end of the day, it?s all about getting the win and taking care of business.”
Connaughton, who led the Prep to a basketball state championship in 2011, was primarily recruited by Notre Dame because of his talent in baseball. While he?s been a successful two-sport athlete for the past three years, Connaughton is no longer on the Notre Dame baseball team. He is now focusing all of his energy toward a career on the hardwood.
?As of right now, I?m not on the Notre Dame baseball team,” said Connaughton, who was drafted in the fourth round last year by the Baltimore Orioles. “I?m focused on Notre Dame basketball, and then I?ll work my tail off before the [NBA] draft.”
The 6-foot-5-inch Connaughton has started all 28 games this season for the Irish, averaging 13 points and seven rebounds. Yet his success has not caught those who know him by surprise.
?He has been the ultimate leader and captain for us,” said ND coach Mike Brey. “We?ve had a lot of great senior leaders, none better than Pat Connaughton.”
Brey believes Connaughton is talented enough to play in the NBA.
?I?ve heard the Celtics like him,” said Brey. “Danny Ainge likes that he?s a baseball/basketball guy, just like he was.”
Connaughton is one of 64 players invited to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Virginia in April, which is a four-day, 12-game tournament in front of representatives from every NBA team. If Connaughton plays well there, he will be invited to the NBA?s predraft camp.
?My career all depends on how much I work on it,” said Connaughton. “It?s completely on my shoulders. I don?t want to say I thought we?d be this good or I thought I?d be able to help the team this much, but it?s something you work toward day in and day out. When you look too far into the future, sometimes you get yourself in trouble. You?ve got to focus on a day in, day out routine, and you need to live it and love it.”
Connaughton?s time at St. John?s Prep also helped develop him into the person and player he is today.
?Talent was not what separated Pat from everyone else,” said Prep coach John Dullea, who was an assistant on Sean Connolly?s staff when Connaughton played. “I said when he was a freshman at Notre Dame that he?d find a way to play. He finds ways to get on the floor and prove people wrong, and he?s done that his whole life.”
Connolly explained coaching a player with Connaughton?s drive was contagious.
?It makes a team so much better when your best player works hard every second of every practice,” said Connolly. “Pat hated to lose and he always wanted to get better trying to win every drill, every sprint, and that helps team chemistry because his teammates didn?t want to let him down. We wouldn?t have won a state championship without him, but he?s also a quality person and a leader.”
Connolly enjoyed a successful playing career of his own at Providence College and the Ohio State University, but did not play in the NBA. He understands the challenges ahead for his former student.
?He?s had an unbelievable career at Notre Dame, but the talent level really increases from college to the NBA,” said Connolly. “But he has a shot to make it. You can never doubt a kid like Pat. It?s just unbelievable how hard he?s worked and how much he?s improved, and I?m rooting for him to make it.”
Despite the bright future ahead, Connaughton, a native of Arlington, took a moment to look back and reflect on his time at the Prep.
?Sean Connolly prepared me to play at this level at St. John?s Prep,” said Connaughton. “He was on me all senior year, but that?s something I?ll always cherish. You can?t ever be satisfied at this level. When you?re not working, there is always someone els