Trey Wertz told the high-major suitors no thanks the first time around.
Nearly three years later, he found his way to a level where many thought he belonged in the first place. Wertz, a 6-4, 180-pound guard, transferred from Santa Clara and was met with a glut of interest from Power Five schools. He settled on Notre Dame.
Wertz made the move in search of a stronger fit, specifically one with an offense that is centered around spacing, movement and friendly decision-making. In Notre Dame, he found one. His commitment gives the Irish 11 scholarship players for 2020-21.
Wertz’s numbers in two years at Santa Clara merited the interest. He started 58 of 62 games across his two seasons with the Broncos. He was a West Coast Conference All-Freshman selection. As a sophomore, he averaged 11.9 points on 49 percent shooting. His three-point percentage soared from 31.7 percent as a freshman to 40 percent as a sophomore on four attempts per game.
In seven games against Power Five teams, Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s and BYU, Wertz’s numbers dipped. He averaged 9.7 points on 39.7 percent shooting with 22 assists and 18 turnovers. His best game of those seven was an 18-point, nine-rebound performance in a win over Washington State. As a freshman, he scored 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting in a win over USC. He also had seven assists without a turnover in another win over Washington State.
