Notre Dame Prep’s Brady Sehlhorst is considered one of the top unsigned players in the senior class, but there was a time when the 6-foot-7 wing was a relative unknown in Chicagoland.
Sehlhorst transferred to Notre Dame midway through his freshman year at Glenbrook South. Due to Illinois High School Association rules, he wasn’t able to play basketball for the Dons that season. But he didn’t dwell on what he was missing.
“I took my freshman year to do skill work, like working on my dribbling and shot,” Sehlhorst said. “It was a nice year to get better. I knew I had to get better going to Notre Dame.
“It was hard not to play, but I also knew not many people are going to look at your freshman year. I had to get better at everything and knew I had to grow a lot more physically.”
Notre Dame coach Kevin Clancy said he didn’t know much about Sehlhorst at the time.
“I knew he had pretty good size,” Clancy said. “In terms of his skill set, I was not super familiar with what his game was all about, whether he was an inside or perimeter guy.”
Clancy, the Dons and their opponents have learned all about Sehlhorst’s immense skill set since then. Sehlhorst, who has not committed to a college program yet, is averaging 21.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists for Notre Dame this season while shooting 51% from the field and 44% from 3-point range.
He packed on nearly 20 pounds and also grew an inch since last season, when he averaged 15.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists. That helped him extend his shooting range and absorb contact in the paint as he became the go-to scorer for the Dons (15-14).
“I really focused on my body, which helped me overall with my athleticism,” Sehlhorst said. “I put on the weight naturally, and with all the work in the weight room, working on my mobility and agility, it made me a much better athlete to go with my basketball skills work.”
Clancy noted that Sehlhorst, who has scored at least 28 points in six games this season, is difficult to defend.
“He’s become a matchup problem,” Clancy said. “When you put somebody shorter on the perimeter on him, he can take them into the post or shoot over them. On the flip side, you put a big on him, he can take them outside.
“His shooting has really opened up his game. He was shooting nearly 50% on threes earlier, which is kind of crazy. He’s faced a lot of gimmick defenses trying to limit him.”
Sehlhorst, who scored his 1,000th career point during a game against Carmel on Dec. 13, said his improved 3-point shooting percentage was a game-changer.
“Shooting over 40% was huge for me,” he said. “It’s an elite level beyond the arc, and it was a big goal of mine to prove that I was an elite shooter. It does make it harder to guard.
“I have a pretty good first step, so it allows me to blow by most on straight-line drives. Having a shot has opened up my driving a lot more and made it easier to score.”
Notre Dame senior guard Vincent Schell said Sehlhorst is effective inside too.
“Brady’s biggest improvement that he made this season would definitely be his strength and inside game,” Schell said. “He’s one of the hardest workers I know. He’s developed a game that can dominate inside and outside, which has made him a matchup nightmare. He’s also become our leading rebounder, which has come from a huge jump in his athleticism and strength.”
Notre Dame senior guard Ryder Raya pointed out that Sehlhorst makes an impact on the other end of the court too.
“Although Brady’s scoring ability has improved greatly, his defensive presence has become vital to our team,” Raya said. “His defense often gets overlooked because of his high scoring but has been just as important this season.”
Sehlhorst has become so valuable because he has put in the work, which also influences the Dons.
“Brady brings an incredible work ethic that is contagious with the team,” Raya said. “He demands the best out of his teammates, and when we see him putting in extra work, it motivates us to do the same. He leads by example and brings his best every day.”
Sehlhorst said Notre Dame has a chance to win a Class 3A regional title for the second straight season if he and his teammates bring their best. The Dons, seeded sixth in the Antioch Sectional, will play 12th-seeded Antioch in a regional semifinal on their home court in Niles on Wednesday.
“We’ve had an up-and-down year, mainly after Ryder Raya went down with a broken hand,” Sehlhorst said. “Overall, we’ve had a good year, just not had as many wins. But going into the playoffs, we have to string together all of the pieces. Some guys have stepped up, but we just have to come together as a group.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
