After helping her team take two consecutive state championships, this 6-2 forward will take her well-rounded game to Notre Dame next season.

Katy Flecky knows winning. And while she couldn't have predicted last November that Notre Dame would capture this season's NCAA championship, it just might be possible that her signing a Letter of Intent back then to attend the school was a positive omen for the Fighting Irish.

A versatile 6-2 player for Highlands Ranch High School in Colorado, Flecky averaged 18.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists this season while leading the school to its second consecutive Class 5A state championship. She was named most valuable player of the 2001 state tournament following the Falcons' 53-44 victory over Doherty in the championship game.

"We had an awesome year, obviously, by winning state again," said Flecky in the Rocky Mountain News. "I'm personally proud of the year I had. Now, I'm really looking forward to playing at Notre Dame and perhaps for a national champion in college."

Flecky was also named the Denver Post's Ms. Colorado Basketball for 2001, retaining her honor from the previous year. She capped off her senior season by being one of only 20 players chosen to compete in the Phoenix/WBCA High School All-American Game in Hartford, Conn., on April 7. "I am excited about this," Flecky told the Denver Post upon hearing of her selection. "It is a huge honor. Everyone talks about being an All-American when they are little and now I have been able to accomplish at least a part of that goal in basketball."

Notre Dame will be looking to reload after losing several seniors from this year's championship team, so it's likely that Flecky will have an immediate role. "Katy is a very good post player and a very strong player," said Notre Dame Head Coach Muffet McGraw upon receiving Flecky's Letter of Intent. "She comes from a great program in Colorado and had a lot of success in national tournaments. She's the type of post player who can step away from the basket but is very comfortable around the basketball as well, and that's where we look for her to fill in. We expect Katy to make an impact right away."

Flecky's inside game has drawn comparisons to ND's graduating senior Kelley Siemon. "She's very similar to Kelley," McGraw said of Flecky. "She's a very strong rebounder. She's physical, aggressive. She can step back and hit the free-throw jumper."

An outstanding student with a 3.8 GPA, Flecky plans to study architecture at Notre Dame.

Article written by Gball Associate Editor Jim Catalano.

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