KK Bransford having enjoyable throughout sizzling stretch with Notre Dame ladies’s basketball

SOUTH BEND — It hasn’t been a simple 4 seasons for KK Bransford at Notre Dame. As a back-to-back Miss Ohio Basketball winner in highschool, she was a extremely touted recruit coming into her freshman season in 2022.

During her first two years with the Irish, Bransford noticed the ground in 66 video games and made 19 begins. However, she averaged 3.4 factors per recreation in these two seasons and her function with Notre Dame transferring ahead was comparatively unclear.

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Bransford entered the switch portal in April 2024 solely to announce she was returning to Notre Dame 15 days later. It seemed like Bransford was poised for a bigger function in her third season, however she ended up lacking the complete yr with a foot damage and took a redshirt.

Now a cemented starter for the Irish in her fourth yr with this system, Bransford is lastly discovering success. More necessary for her, she’s discovering pleasure in dwelling as much as her expectations.

“It’s just been fun,” Bransford mentioned. “I’ve missed the game so much. Being able to prove to them what they know I can do, and having that confidence instilled in me, has been big.”

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Bransford’s vitality on and off the courtroom appears to rub off on her teammates and training employees. That’s evident simply by her pregame particular handshake with junior Kelly Ratigan.

She’s been given a variety of causes to smile throughout the first 10 days of the season, making her return to the courtroom after 20 months on the sidelines final Wednesday towards Fairleigh Dickinson. Bransford mentioned the season opener was a great likelihood to flush out any nerves she could have had about stepping again into aggressive motion, however Bransford made her presence actually felt within the Irish win final Sunday towards Chicago State.

She set a profession excessive for factors and rebounds with a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double.

“When you sit out you see the game from a different perspective, and she had that whole year to get better and get stronger,” head coach Niele Ivey mentioned. “She’s in a really great role. She’s more confident in knowing what she can bring to this team. She’s been a great leader for us.”

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Bransford mentioned these 20 months spent making an attempt to get again to assembly the requirements of being a key contributor for a collegiate program the caliber of Notre Dame gave her the prospect to reestablish why she loves the sport.

“It helps me reflect on all the work I’ve put in,” Bransford mentioned. “I’ve played basketball since I was five years old, so it’s kind of a full-circle moment.”

Speaking of which, Bransford may have two such moments in her second week of play. Ivey labored arduous to get Bransford some type of “homecoming” recreation for her redshirt junior season, and whereas that didn’t come to fruition, the subsequent smartest thing was reserving a stretch towards Akron and Michigan.

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Notre Dame’s recreation towards the Zips Wednesday is not going to be performed in Bransford’s residence state, however will probably be an opportunity for Bransford to play towards her sister for the primary time. While Kailee, a freshman for Akron, will probably be out with an damage, Notre Dame’s assembly towards the Zips allowed the Bransford sisters to be reunited for the primary time since early August.

The close to 4 months spent aside was the longest Bransford mentioned she had ever gone with out seeing her youthful sister.

As for the upcoming ranked recreation towards No. 15 Michigan in Detroit this Saturday, it’ll be an opportunity for Bransford’s dad and mom and prolonged household to observe their daughter play of their residence state. While Bransford went to highschool in Cincinnati, her dad and mom are each from Michigan and her father is a diehard Wolverines fan.

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Ivey, who could also be happy to see Bransford’s early-season success greater than anybody, put the significance of this 10-day stretch for Bransford into perspective.

“This game is hard. It’s a lot of pressure. There are highs and lows. When you love who you’re working with and you love who you’re coaching, it makes it so much better,” Ivey mentioned. “We’re very competitive, we have our standard, but I want them to play with joy. That’s what everyone is doing, especially KK.”

Kyle Smedley is a highschool sports activities reporter on the South Bend Tribune. Contact him through electronic mail atksmedley@gannett.com or observe him on X @KyleSmedley03.