U of M Basketball Recruiting Discussion

[hack]

This is the one amonst the handful of names this week that Beilein wants, I guess?

[The Oracle]

Seems like they guy we've been recruiting the hardest, yeah. I found a little bit of tape, but they are full length games. Looks pretty decent, definitely has tools.

[hack]

He'll make the right choice I'm sure. I am tempted by Obi the 6-9 behemoth rebounder, whether he's a below the rim guy or not. What about Manuel? Got a read on him?

[The Oracle]

I know when he was at Sexton, they weren't sniffing him at all because of grades and I don't think there's been much mutual interest since. A lot of smoke but no fire there.

[WM Wolverine]

M's top target for '14 seems to be Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman SG/SF then Aubrey Dawkins SG... Like the latters talent level a bit more than the latter but it's likely a first come, first serve situation and Abdur-Raham seems very high on M if they offer on his visit this weekend... Neither will be instant impact players next season but that is not what M needs or is looking for either; expectations for both are closer to 4-year 'program' types that won't scare away potential '15 recruits...

Possibility for both? Very unlikely imo, I think they'd only take one after todays early entries announce their NBA intentions and potentially target a front-court transfer. If they target a transfer there is no rush as the potential transfers still need to finish their spring semesters before they can apply and get qualified into M.

[Pasadena Blue]

I rather doubt that any of these late additions will be significant contributors. Is it really worth taking up schollies for these benchwarmers? I'd rather we bank the schollies for '15.

[WM Wolverine]

Depends on how talented these recruits are of course. They look better than the Novak types JB was bringing in, in his first class or two.

[hack]

More Spikes and LeVerts is the best-case. More Beilfeldts is the worst-case. I'm minded to give Beilein the benefit of the doubt. You need a mix of four-year guys and early-entry guys.

[WM Wolverine]

Agree. M needs some 'program'/ quality depth guys if they continue to lose so many guys early which is a good problem but M is only just starting to build up the depth for that to be a good problem. Without quality depth, that good problem is a bad problem. JB unlike coaches at a lot of other top schools doesn't abuse over-signing in anticipation of early entries.

[The Oracle]

I would't rule out Rahkman being an early contributor. He's got a college body, handle and defense already. His biggest knock is his shot, believe it or not. That'll come. We won't really need him, but he looks pretty decent to me.

[WM Wolverine]

Haven't seen good highlights of Rahkman so don't have a strong opinion about his talent level. Aubrey Dawkins looked better to me (but he put up a lot less production against better competition) though I saw more of Dawkins highlights.

[WM Wolverine]

Aubrey Dawkins is visiting THIS weekend now, same weekend as Rahkman. I assume both are without offers but have been told they are likely to get offered if they visit. I have a preference for Dawkins from what very little I've seen of Rahkman. Good chance they find LeVert's backup shortly after this upcoming weekend and it's one of those two.

[The Oracle]

Very interesting they're both coming. Can't imagine they'd take both. I watched a little bit more on Dawkins; his skill set worries me a bit. 9 time out of 10 I'd take skill over athleticism and as of now Rahkman has him soundly beaten...but only from what I've seen on "highlight" tapes of Dawkins.

[WM Wolverine]

I really don't have much to go on either guy, basically one game film of Rahkman which I only watched the first 6-8 minutes of and a couple highlight clips of Dawkins. With recruits that are likely to be 4-year players, I think you take the guy who will be the more valuable player after a couple years of development.

[lineygoblue]

Getting caught up after a wild week at work ...

Stauskas will probably be a decent 6th or 7th man in the NBA. Needs to bulk up a bit to handle the rigors of an 84 game season and dealing with guys like LeBron and Kobe every night ...

Robinson III going, IMO, .. is a mistake. But, I'm not sure I would have been able to turn down a few million at his age.