Mars basketball standout Robby Carmody has verbally committed to Notre Dame. With his senior year still to come, Carmody has received numerous Division I offers over the past two years.

ADAMS TWP — Robby Carmody was in the middle of a two-week stretch in which he was scheduled to visit the last three schools standing from a three-year recruiting war.

But his plans were interrupted by something Mars' star senior basketball player has been in search of all along — the perfect fit.

A week after visiting Purdue University and prior to his scheduled visit to the University of Michigan, Carmody spent three days at Notre Dame this week and knew he had found his future home. He made a verbal commitment Thursday to play for the Fighting Irish.

Carmody, a 6-foot-4 guard, previously said he hoped to make a decision prior to his senior season at Mars, which does not begin until November.

“I just felt really comfortable, being on campus with all the guys,” said Carmody of Notre Dame. “I played basketball with some of the players Tuesday night and it was awesome. I fit in really well and thought, “Why drag this out any further? Let's just make the decision now.'”

“He actually made the decision on Wednesday, but we wanted him to sleep on it,” said Robby's father and Mars coach Rob Carmody. “It's a big decision, but he woke up (Thursday) and his mind was still made up.

“There's some finality to it now,” added Rob Carmody. “He knows where he's going.”

Notre Dame first showed interest in Robby Carmody during his freshman season and first offered him a scholarship in April 2016.

“They were always one of the top teams (in recruiting) in my mind,” he said. “During this whole process, (Notre Dame head coach) Mike Brey is one of the coolest people I've met. We've built a great relationship with each other.”

In his 17 seasons with the Irish, Brey has guided the program to an average of 23 wins per season. Notre Dame won the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in 2015 and made back-to-back NCAA Elite Eight appearances in 2015 and 2016.

Robby Carmody helped lead Mars to the state title game as a sophomore. As the program's only returning player with any considerable varsity experience this past season, he averaged 26.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game as the Planets reached the state quarterfinals.

Following his graduation from high school next spring, Robby Carmody will be joining a Notre Dame program that competes in the ACC with the University of Pittsburgh as well as national powers Duke and North Carolina.

“I'm so excited for that,” he said. “I've dreamed of playing in some of those arenas. Now it's going to come true.”

Aside from his coming athletic challenge in college, Robby Carmody will also be tested academically by one of the most respected universities in the country.

“We wanted him to go to a school that gives him the best opportunity to succeed, no matter what happens on the basketball court,” Rob Carmody said. “Notre Dame, the school speaks for itself. Academically, socially, the alumni, it's a special place. Robby carries a GPA over 4.0. He's fully committed academically.”

Rob Carmody said that Robby received scholarship offers from 24 Division I programs and attracted attention from between 60 and 75. Through it all, he has seen no change in his son.

“What all of this has revealed about Robby is the high character he has,” he said. “It's a unique situation and he's handled it well. I challenge anybody to walk into Mars High School and be able to pick out Robby because of the way he acts. He's still a humble, quiet and shy kid.”

“I know I've been blessed and that it can all be taken away in a heartbeat,” Robby said. “Making this decision now, it will allow me to hang out with my friends a lot more. I just want to make the most of my last year of high school.”