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Michigan Recruiting...Dakich?

Photo Credit: Laura Pratt

So a few sites have started reporting that John Beilein and staff are still looking at a few 2013 players and among them is Andrew Dakich.  As many will quickly see, Dakich has a pretty well known name. That's because his father works for ESPN as a college basketball analyst.  He covered several Michigan games this season including Michigan's road game against Wisconsin.  Regardless of his heritage, Dakich has the potential to offer the Wolverines a lot starting next season.

Dakich is a point guard that stands at 6'1" and receives most of his attention based on his basketball IQ and his intelligent gameplay.  He's a player that understands the game and the little things that can make an offense run effectively.  Unfortunately, he doesn't quite have the body to match his game understanding.  He has the height at 6'1", but he doesn't have the quickness or athleticism of most D1 prospects. Imagine a player like Spike except probably a little slower.  He's worked on his game as of late as well and improved his outside shot, which makes the Spike comparison even better.

So he has potential, but he has limits on what he can do against the top competition.  This is the main reason Michigan is looking at him as a preferred walk-on and not as a scholarship player.  He hasn't been getting much attention as a scholarship player, which should calm expectations.  If Michigan gets him to commit, it's not like they are stealing a solid scholarship player for a walk-on position.  Dakich has the potential to contribute at some point, but even with the most favorable projections, this isn't a player to get too hyped about in the near future.

However, what makes this so interesting is the extra security it would give Michigan for the next few years.  Of course, Dakich would be expected to redshirt and then potentially play the next season, but take a look at Michigan's roster next season.  They have considerable talent and depth, but it's pretty thin in certain areas and especially at the point.  Derrick Walton and Spike Albrecht should be good players next season, but those are the only two guys for the position.  Nobody else on the Michigan roster
next year besides these two is projected to be a point guard.  This means that if either player were to get injured, that leaves virtually no depth at arguably the most important position on the court.

A dropoff from starters to the bench should be expected, but it's also expected that there is a bench.  Even this season the Wolverines had players like Eso Akunne that could come off the bench if necessary in an injury situation.  Dakich would give the team that extra security blanket for up to 5 years if he ends up joining the roster.  So even though this is a recruitment that won't merit a ton of attention, it has the potential to be huge if the Wolverines run into unfortunate circumstances.

What Happens If Michigan Strikes Out On The "Big 3?"

Alright so by now you all know that Michigan is hard after the "big 3" in WR Laquon Treadwell, RB Derrick Green, and Safety Leon McQuay III.  I'm going to give a breakdown on where I think we stand with each of these guys and a recruit that I think could be a viable option and very suitable replacement for each individual.

Let's start with Leon McQuay III.  The highly coveted five-star safety out of Florida made his official visit to Michigan last weekend for the Northwestern game.  While Leon is usually very quiet, I did see some interviews that he did after his visit and it looks like he had a great time.  Obviously, the game atmosphere was huge, but if you don't know, a major factor in Leon's recruitment is the school's music program.  Michigan has a very good one and he was able to hang out with two of Michigan's current players Jack Kennedy and Joe Reynolds.  Many of the Michigan fans know them as JDK and Rey.  They are both great musicians and even have a song that plays in the stadium before games.  I think this is a huge help with Leon because he can see that he will be able to make music and the school as well as the football program will support him and help him get his name out there.  But let's not forget Michigan is battling USC, Oregon and Vanderbilt.  It will be a very tight race, but I believe Michigan will be in the conversation at the Under Armour Game on January 4th where Leon makes his decision.

Team 134 Adds WR Da'Mario Jones

With the pending drama and what most people seem as a certain decommitment from Cornerback Gareon Conley and the uncertainty out of Laquon Treadwell, the Michigan coaches went out and offered Senior WR Da'Mario Jones out of Westland, MI and he committed on the spot.  Most of the experts seemed to think that he was the definite back up plan for Treadwell.   Jones is 6'2" 190 pounds and is a 3* on ESPN.  He has shown a lot of interest in Michigan and while he was committed to Central Michigan University, he still seemed to have interest in Michigan. 

His family loves Michigan and it's clear that he does also.  I think it's a big pick up for the Wolverines and I don't believe scholarship spots will be an issue because most people think Conley will decommit.  I'm hearing from Sam Webb that the coaches are still recruiting Treadwell and that they will still recruit Conley if he does decide to go take visits   I think the difference between him and David Dawson are that he is going about it the right way and not behind the coaches backs. 

More Drama With The 2013 Class?

Well as I'm sitting here in southern Maryland weathering hurricane Sandy, I figured I would talk about what seems to be an impending storm in recruiting for the 2013 class for Michigan.  I won't speak much about it, but there is some more drama with David Dawson.  If you haven't heard by now (you must live under a rock), but Michigan and Dawson decided to part ways a short time ago.  It seemed to be that Florida was in the driver's seat, but now that's not the case, or at least according to Dawson. 

Mr. Dawson has recently named a top-3 of Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.  What many disgruntled Michigan fans see as a slap in the face, it seems Dawson seems to favor schools in the B1G.  Given his family situation, it seems fitting that he wants to stay close to home.  I believe the ribbing from a few "bad apples" in the Michigan fan base has kind of left a salt in his mouth and I believe he may be sticking it to the Michigan fans.  We will see how it plays out, but looks like he could be lining up for one of Michigan's bitter rivals.  He has said he is taking visits and look for him to make a decision at the All-American game, if not sooner.

Denzel Ward Becomes Commit #2 For 2014

Yesterday, before the game even started, Michigan fans received some great news as big time Offensive Tackle Denzel Ward from the 2014 class pledged his commitment to Michigan. This kid is 6'9" and 300 pounds. He's just an absolute monster and what many are calling a huge pick up for the Wolverines. Denzel made his first trip to Ann Arbor last weekend for the Illinois game and came away very impressed and with a scholarship offer from the coaches. I had a good feeling about him because he struck a very good bond with 2013 Commit Logan Tuley-Tillman. Sam Webb alluded to it this week that a commitment this weekend was certain and he was right. There's not a ton of coverage on Ward yet, but what scouts have said is that he is very raw and has a ton of upside. He joins Michael Ferns in this class and Michael is one of the top linebackers in the state of Ohio so with the addition of Denzel, Team 135 is off to a great start.

What next for the 2014 class? Well Michigan, has made it clear they want to be deep on the offensive line. Look for the staff to take at least 3 more offensive linemen, if not 4.  Depth at the OL is important and I know Coach Hoke is a firm believer in that. The 2012 and 2013 classes were both very loaded and with this Denzel Ward commitment, that's a good start. A Top-50 player in the country, OL Mason Cole visited as well and Michigan sits very well with him. In my opinion, I think he's blue in the end, but it could be down the road.  It was a big time list of visitors and Cole's teammate, WR Artavis Scott, has Michigan high up there and these two could possibly be a package deal. 2014 DB Damon Webb was also on hand and he came away impressed. I think he's one of the coaches' top priorities for this class. He's a big time player and would be a huge get for Michigan.

Reggie Cameron Picks Georgetown Over Michigan

In one of the more unsurprising updates on the recruiting trail, 2013 prospect Reggie Cameron has selected Georgetown.  Cameron was Michigan's top remaining target in the 2013 recruiting class and his decision to go elsewhere will likely wrap up recruiting for this year.  Michigan may not have been his leader, but the Wolverines were in the race for quite awhile for one of the best players in the country.  ESPN had him rated as a 4* and #66 in the class.  There's no doubt that for those holding out hope for a final pick-up in the 2013 class (myself included) there has to be some disappointment.

So, now the obvious question.  Where does this leave Michigan's recruiting and depth chart for 2013 and beyond.  Well, in my opinion, 2013 recruiting is done.  As I tweeted earlier today, the only way I see someone else joining the 2013 recruiting class is if Beilein decides to offer a new recruit.  Most likely, this would be a 3* or below and a "project" type player.  Think of the two late additions to Michigan's 2012 recruiting class, Caris LeVert and Spike Albrecht.  I think both can be good players, but they will have to develop some before they can truly contribute to the team.

Profiling 2013 Prospect Demetrius Jackson

To most, Michigan basketball's recruiting in 2013 is all wrapped up.  However, there are a handful of key prospects that could massively impact Michigan's recruiting both now and in the future.  On our basketball recruiting page, I have three primary targets listed, but this does not mean that I believe that they will end up in Ann Arbor.  For instance, the recruit I am profiling in this article, Demetrius Jackson, has a very slim chance of ending up at Michigan.  Despite this, he is still a recruit that could impact Michigan's 2013 class and will surely impact some of Michigan's key opponents regardless of his decision.

Jackson is one of the best players in the 2013 recruiting class.  Not just at his position, point guard, but for all basketball players in the class.  He's so effective for one main reason, his amazing athleticism, which can be clearly seen in his tape.  He has tremendous speed and is practically unstoppable when he drives the basket.  Along with this, he has great ball handling skills, solid defense, and is a pretty good rebounder considering he's just 6'1".  The one area that he could improve on, as referenced by both Future150 and ESPN, is his shooting.  He's a fantastic point guard, but if he could truly threaten from the perimeter, he could be extremely effective.  I don't think he needs to add size because it would probably impact his speed, which is his major asset.  His athleticism, court vision, and passing abilities will carry him, but he can be elite at the college level with an improved jump shot, particularly from outside the arch.

2013 QB Commit Shane Morris Out For Season?

Some startling news to Michigan fans today as the Detroit Free Press reported that 2013 QB Commit Shane Morris could possibly be out for the remainder of his Senior season with mononucleosis.  In his game this past weekend against Brother Rice, Shane had to come out at the half because he was too gassed. 

According to the Free Press article, he had been medically cleared to play because the mono had not yet reached his spleen.  Well, ESPN's Tom VanHaaren reported that Shane texted him to let him know he's in the hospital tonight for some routine observations.  It's unclear as of right now as to whether or not Shane will be playing football anymore in high school. Mono varies from case by case but, I did a bit of research and it could be cleared up in 3-4 weeks or 2-3 months.  It can include fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and the rupture of spleen.  Not playing during his recovery could be very important.

This could possibly put a blow on Shane's improvement as a quarterback as nothing is more important to improving as a quarterback, or any player for that matter, than live game reps.  I think it's good that they decided to pull him because there's no sense of risking further injury, especially with something that could become serious.  I commend his coach and everyone around him for making the right call with this.  This summer was very active for Shane as he participated in the Nike Opening 2012 in Oregon as well as the Elite 11 Camp out in California.  I think that even if Shane isn't able to come back his senior year he can still work on his skills in the offseason.

Catching Up With Taco Charlton

There have been some pretty amazing players that have come through Ann Arbor.  A lot of those players had some pretty unique names.  Immediately I think of Mercury Hayes, Amani Toomer, Tim Biakabutuka, Ian Gold, Rob Swet, Ty Law, and remember Tripp Welbourne? That's right, two p's. Tripp.  Those are the names of players that are imbedded in my brain.  When I heard Keith Jackson say their names, they became unforgettable. We have had a Mercury, a Tripp and even an Elvis. We can now add Taco to the list.

Future Big Ten running backs and quarterbacks wont be too excited to see this guy on the Saturday menu.  At 6-6 and 250, Taco Charlton is already a physical specimen.  He has not had the benefit of a college weight room or the coaching from arguably the best DLine staff in the country. When it comes to his capabilities, the sky is the limit.  Charlton is an exceptional 2 sport athlete, also excelling in basketball. I got to talk to the Michigan commit Tuesday night shortly after his Pickerington Central Soccer team beat cross-town rivals Pickerington North. In what Charlton says will be the beginning of a trend between both schools that will extend over other sports, most importantly football:

An Interview With 2013 RB Derrick Green

Two of the nation's top players were on stage when The Hermitage Panthers took on the Fork Union Military Academy Blue Devils in live action Saturday to a nation-wide TV audience courtesy of ESPNU.  Although the game showcased 2 of the top high school football players at their respective positions, Hermitage RB Derrick Green (Undecided) and FUMA's QB (Penn St. Verbal) Christian Hackenberg, it was quite the lopsided affair.  

The Panther defense would take care of Hackenberg early on, and according to Green, it was all part of the plan.  He told me, "It was a lot of preparation and a lot of film that did it. Our coaches got us ready." "The defense did a great job." "We knew if we got Hackenberg out of the pocket we could give him problems.." Problems indeed.  3rd and long was routine.  Hackenberg never had time to get set in the pocket, and he never found the endzone. It was over early.  38-0 Panthers.

The problems were not just on Offense for FUMA. On the Defensive side, the Blue Devils had to contend with new Varsity QB Niko Johnson and the renowned human "Truck with a Turbo" RB Derrick Green.  Green showed the country why he is ranked #6 in the ESPN150 and in some eyes the best "Back" in his class. With a slew of schools vying for his services, Michigan like the rest of his suitors, are hoping to hear those "sweet words".

This past Sunday night I got to chat with the Michigan Target and among other things; we talked about his big game in week 1, who he looks up to in the League, nicknames and where he stands in his college recruiting adventure.

2013 Commit Austin Hatch To Delay To 2014

A lot has been made of the events surrounding Austin Hatch and his attempts to recover from the tragic plane crash that destroyed his family.  So much in fact that the IHSAA has decided to allow Hatch an extra year in high school.  This has a multitude of effects on both Hatch, Michigan, and the team's future recruiting plans.  I will break down that impact below, but I first want to congratulate the IHSAA on making the right decision.  Much like the situation involving DeAnthony Arnett, it doesn't matter whether it will benefit one school or another, it was the right thing to do for both the NCAA and the IHSAA.  Not only for athletic reasons, but also for academic reasons.  The recovery time put Austin significantly behind in his studies and an extra year will allow him to regain his standing and get ready to attend the University of Michigan.

Now, to get into some of the impact of this decision.  The first impact will be on Austin himself.  Obviously, the extra time to get settled both academically and athletically will be a great benefit, but it's going to go a long way towards preparing him for college and specifically, basketball at the collegiate level.  To be frank, Austin's injury during the plane crash put him behind schedule in his college preparation.  While most athletes are preparing during the summer and their senior year to be ready for college, Austin has to recover to simply get himself back on the court.  There are still doubts about how much time he will even see this basketball season.  For a player trying to step in and contribute at a school like Michigan, high school preparation is key to making a great transition.

Updating The 2013 ESPN100's Michigan Commits And Targets

In some of the better news of the offseason for Michigan basketball, ESPN has released their updated rankings for the 2013 class.  This takes all of the summer play that has occured into account so they can adjust their rankings.  Although these rankings are not cemented and are just about guaranteed to change before the players get on campus, this is when the list starts to get pretty solidified and it's much rarer to see players move too far up and down.  The scouts have finally gotten a good look at just about everyone and have seen for themselves whether they are the real deal or not.

Just a few quick reminders.  First, I have generally found that ESPN's basketball recruiting coverage has been the best of all the major recruiting services.  It's not perfect, but it has been the best.  Other services have done some great things and I think that they have improved in some areas, but overall, I still give the nod to ESPN.  The most important thing, however, is to compare where recruits are placed on different lists.  If a person uses just one or two services, they are probably going to get a limited idea of a recruit's potential.  Combining different recruiting services, offer lists, and videos seems to be the bes method for review.  You can see all the major scouting rankings for each class here.  Regardless, here are the rankings for the ESPN100 in 2013:

Introducing 2013 Prospect Vitto Brown

One of the more interesting recruits for Michigan in 2013 has been Vitto Brown.  Beilein and his staff keep an eye on numerous prospects, but this is a recruitment that has sort of "come out of the blue" so to speak.  He had a great camp performance, which has really changed the dynamic in terms of Michigan.  Michigan was not in the race whatsoever, but after his camp performance and some meetings with the staff, now is firmly entrenched in Michigan's recruiting radar.


Unlike fellow 2013 Michigan prospect Reggie Cameron, Vitto Brown is a big man that makes his name in the paint.  He is a great low post player, a great rebounder, and a great shot blocker.  Imagine a Sullinger-esque player that can be felt on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.  He's clearly not as talented as Sullinger, but they play with a similar style.  Another skill he's been linked to is a high basketball IQ, which is something Beilein and company look for in all their recruits.  The one area that really needs some work for Brown is his shooting.  He has been improving his mid-range jumper, but he is not a great 3-point shooter.  With his position, size, and style of play, he wouldn't be expected to attempt shots outside the arch very often, but if he can improve on that shooting, he could become a better version of Evan Smotcryz.

Introducing 2013 Prospect Reggie Cameron

Even though it's only July 2012 and Michigan hasn't had a basketball player commit since early August 2011, Michigan's 2013 basketball recruiting is beginning to reach its conclusion.  Yes, there are numerous targets that Michigan is still watching and pursuing, but in all reality, most of them will probably end up somewhere else and if Michigan does add to its 2013 recruiting class, it will probably only be 1 person.  Despite this, one of the prime candidates to fill this spot is Reggie Cameron, a player from New Jersey.


Cameron brings a full array of talents to the court that separate him from many other players.  His clearest talent is his ability to shoot the ball, particularly from the outside.  He identifies this as his best skill and even checking out one highlight film will show this is his best skill.  He also has the ability to set some pretty solid picks on the offensive side and play different defensive positions.  He can guard either the 3 or the 4 position, which can make him very useful on both sides of the ball.  I would like to see him improve on his interior offensive play and some rebounding.  Granted, he plays the small forward position, so he's not really expected to do either, but at 6'7" I think he could make a larger impact in both areas.

Updating 2013 Commit Austin Hatch

If there has ever been a commit that has received unanimous support from the Michigan community, it's Austin Hatch.  Not because he's an insanely elite prospect, but because of the hardship he has endured since he committed to Michigan.  He recently survived a brutal plane crash that killed both his father and his stepmother and has been on the road to recovery ever since.  He was injured severely in the crash and for him to even contemplate a return to basketball is amazing.  Every year and recruiting class typically brings one "heartfelt" story, but Hatch has taken that meaning to a new level and should be one of the most beloved Michigan players in future years, whether he turns into a great college player or not.

Hatch's major asset that he brings to the table is his shooting ability.  However, with the plane crash there have been major questions raised about his abilities in terms of both his athleticism and general basketball skills.  In fact, it's still a question whether he will be ready for basketball at all once he arrives on campus in 2013.  I do believe he will be ready to play, but it's going to be quite awhile before he recovers the talents that encompassed his game before the crash.  Until he is completely college ready, which may even be a year or two into college, he's not going to be a major contributor.

Updating 2013 Commit Zak Irvin

Another year and another big commit from Indiana.  In recent years, Michigan has built its teams and recruiting classes off players from Indiana.  A few years ago, two low ranked recruits named Zack Novak and Stu Douglass joined the Wolverines.  They were some of the key factors that got Michigan back to the NCAA Tournament after a decade long drought and to a Big Ten title in 2012.  Michigan then followed by signing its highest rated recruit in the 2012 recruiting class, 5* Glenn Robinson III, who is also from Indiana.  With such strong success recruiting the state of Indiana, it only made sense to bring in another highly rated recruit, Zak Irvin in 2013.

Irvin has great size at 6'6" and is extremely talented on the offensive side of the ball.  He's been called "aggressive" and is cited as a great 3-point shooter.  For Beilein's offense, this is obviously a major advantage for Irvin.  The only area that he probably does need to work on is his strength.  In fact, he actually got bumped down to junior varsity level because his coaches believed he needed to work on his strength.  Now, this shouldn't be a major concern since his school has enormous depth and talent (He actually went to school with 5* MSU commit Gary Harris).  However, if Irvin wants to make an immediate transition to the college game, he will have to work on this weakness.

Updating 2013 Commit Mark Donnal

For the second consecutive year, Michigan will be bringing in a ESPN100 "big man" for their recruiting class.  In 2012, the Wolverines brought in Mitch McGary and now they will be bringing in Mark Donnal for 2013.  Donnal hasn't received the same hype or rankings as McGary, but he is a very talented player and will complement what already should be a pretty solid team in 2013-2014.  The most exciting thing about Donnal, however, is the fact that fans could potentially see him on the floor at the same time as McGary, which would be a lineup that should leave fans mouths watering.

Donnal has a multitude of talents that will make him a great pickup for the Wolverines.  He has the ability to play above the rim and shoot from distance.  In fact, his shooting ability is one of the main reasons he should fit into Beilein's offense so well.  In a post by UMHoops,it was said that, "A lot of guys can step up and shoot, but [Donnal] can set a ball screen, pop, set a side ball screen and pop, and he's getting better on the block."  This shooting ability will separate him from many other big men and should hopefully pay dividends for Michigan.  He's also been improving on his rebounding abilities, which could make him even more deadly once he arrives on campus.  If this part of his game improves, he may also move up in the 2013 rankings.  This does little to help his actual game, but it is pretty exciting for fans to witness.  Donnal has also been cited as having a great motor, the ability to shot block,and as a good low post scorer.  All things that make him into one of the best players in Michigan's 2013 class.

Updating 2013 Commit Derrick Walton

Michigan's highest rated commitment of the 2013 recruiting class is Derrick Walton.  He's a point guard from   Harper Woods, Michigan and appears to be Michigan's point guard of the future once Trey Burke leaves.  With all the drama that followed the 2011-2012 season regarding Trey Burke and his NBA Draft decision, it is at least somewhat reassuring to have someone waiting to replace him.  Compare the situation to when Darius Morris went pro.  He was a great point guard for the Wolverines and was going to be a challenge to replace, but with Trey Burke already coming to Ann Arbor, it made Morris' move a little less concerning.  The same should happen after this season, assuming Burke will go pro, because Walton will be arriving on campus just in time to replace Burke.


Walton certainly has the perfect size to play the point guard position, standing at 6'0" and weighing around 170 lbs.  He has great court vision and passing skills.  These are the things that drive his game, but his scoring has also improved over the last year as he scored 20 points or more in 10 of his last 11 games last year.  He also kept up his assist numbers and should be able to make an instant impact when he shows up at Michigan.  He probably won't be as good as Trey Burke immediately, but he has a much higher ceiling and a lot more potential than Burke in the long term.

How To Close The 2013 Recruiting Class?

Just wanted to do a quick post on who I think the last couple spots go two in 2013.  There are many who place the scholarship limit at 24 for 2013, which leaves 1 spot.  However, I think that with these pending offseason issues, the potential for depth losses, and the chance of someone entering the NFL Draft early, I think the class will probably have 25 recruits.


The conceived options are WR Laquon Treadwell and RB Derrick Green.  These two guys are among the best at their respected positions and if one pulls the trigger before the other, I can't possibly see the coaches turning the other one away.  These kids are both top notch and have high interest in the Wolverines. I think the more likely of the two to commit first would be Treadwell even though he has a pending visit to Oklahoma State.  Derrick Green is visiting for the bbq, but I don't possibly see him pulling the trigger so soon in the process.  Still plenty of time for him to make up his mind..