| Natalie Novosel |
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OVERVIEW:
Well-rounded athletic wing who should blend seamlessly into Notre Dame's motion and transition offenses ... maintains scorer's mentality with superb perimeter skills ... can also attack the basket and is not afraid of contact in the paint ... size and agility make her a difficult matchup ... strong ballhandler and passer with creativity and solid court awareness ... aggressive on defense and will be asset in traps and presses ... student of the game who is always eager to improve and further develop her game ... boasts impressive work ethic and ultra-competitive desire.
HIGH SCHOOL:
Averaged career averages of 14.0 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 3.7 spg., and 2.8 apg. at Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, Ky. ... helped pace Knights to outstanding 130-11 (.922) record during her final four years on the LCHS varsity (began playing on varsity as eighth-grader) for coaches Greg Todd and Jeff Hans ... led team to state championships in 2005 and 2006 ... ranked 32nd in nation by All-Star Girls Report ... ranked 43rd in nation/four-star player (13th among guards) by ESPN Hoopgurlz ... ranked 47th in nation by Blue Star Basketball ... ranked 71st in nation (11th among off-guards) by Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report ... two-time Street & Smith's preseason honorable mention All-American ... one of top three vote-getters for 2008 Kentucky Miss Basketball ... three-time all-state selection (unanimous first team pick in 2008; top vote-getter in balloting by Lexington Herald-Leader) ... four-time all-city pick ... MVP of 2006 Kentucky 11th Region Tournament, 2006 Fifth Third Bank Kentucky Holiday Classic and 2007 Lexington Catholic Holiday Classic ... averaged 19.9 ppg. and 9.1 rpg. as a senior, sparking team to 29-5 record and berth in regional title game for fourth consecutive season ... selected to try out for 2008 Kentucky All-Star Team, but opted to forgo selection in order to allow minor knee injury to heal completely and prepare for summer classes at Notre Dame ... as junior in 2006-07, averaged 17.9 ppg., 8.5 rpg., 4.4 apg., 3.8 spg., .583 FG% (13th in state), .787 FT% (20th in state) while team compiled 30-4 record before being upset in regional title game ... as sophomore in 2005-06, averaged 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and helped team to 35-1 record with No. 3 ranking in USA Today Super 25 poll (highest ever for a Kentucky school) ... team posted 36-1 record in 2004-05 and was ranked as high as sixth in USA Today Super 25 poll ... ranks fourth in school history for career points (2,103) and one of five players in LCHS history with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds (1,021 boards) in career ... also holds school record with 561 steals ... also played for high-powered Tennessee Flight Silver AAU squad (coached by Matt Insell) that won a pair of titles in summer of 2007 -- prestigious End of the Trail tournament in Oregon City, Ore., (Novosel canned two free throws with six seconds left to seal semifinal win), and Midwest Showdown in Mason, Ohio ... AAU squad also tied for third at Boo Williams Invitational.
PERSONAL DATA:
Born Nov. 22, 1989, in Lexington, Ky. ... one of three children -- older sister, Shannon, is a senior on the University of Evansville basketball team, while twin brother, Nathan is a freshman at the University of Rochester ... last name pronounced KNOW-vuh-sell ... parents are Jaine and Nick Novosel ... first Notre Dame women's basketball player ever to come from state of Kentucky ... hails from same high school as former Irish men's basketball standout David Graves (1999-2002) ... enrolled in First Year of Studies program at Notre Dame ... some former Irish players who wore No. 21 include the Notre Dame all-time scoring leader Beth Morgan and two-time All-America forward (and South Bend native) Jacqueline Batteast.
