JUST IN: Notre Dame Lands Two Commits with the Pledge of 7‑Foot Center

Notre Dame Lands Two Commits in Two Days with the Pledge of 7‑Foot Center Gan‑Erdene Solongo

South Bend, IN – June 9, 2025 – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are riding high after securing two high-impact commitments in as many days, capping it off today with the pledge of four‑star center Gan‑Erdene Solongo.

A towering presence

• Seven feet tall, 270 pounds, Solongo is heralded as Mongolia’s tallest living person and a massive physical specimen
• A relatively raw talent due to his late start in U.S. basketball (only picked up the sport at age 14), he still shows exciting upside around the rim
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Recruit ranking & decision

• 4‑star recruit, ranked No. 99 nationally and No. 14 among centers in 2026 by On3 .
• Picked Notre Dame over offers from Ohio State, Indiana, Butler, Illinois, Xavier, and more .

The Sanderson connection

• Solongo has been living with Jon Sanderson, Notre Dame’s newly named Director of Strength & Conditioning, and his family since 2023
• He’ll reunite in South Bend with his adoptive brother, point guard Jonathan Sanderson, who committed yesterday

On‑court production

• As a junior at Ensworth Academy (Nashville), he averaged 12.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg, and 1.3 bpg
• The plan is to bolster the Irish frontcourt alongside current freshman Tommy Ahneman, continuing a trend of adding size in consecutive recruiting cycles

Irish coach Micah Shrewsberry’s pitch

• Solongo cited Notre Dame’s player‑development focus and the staff’s family atmosphere as key reasons in his pledge

What this means for Fighting Irish

• Back‑to‑back seven‑footers: Pairing Solongo with Ahneman creates a formidable presence in the paint for 2026.
• Built‑in chemistry: The familial Sanderson tie strengthens team unity and cohesion.
• High ceiling: Though still developing, Solongo’s size and effort signal untapped potential—never underestimate a 7‑footer.

What’s next?

• Solongo and Jonathan Sanderson will play their senior seasons together at La Lumiere (IN), setting the stage for a ready-made frontcourt duo
• Watch for how Solongo’s game develops over the next year—Notre Dame fans and ACC defensive game-plans should take note.