Post-Game Notebook: Michigan vs. Kentucky - Well, That Sucked.

Photo Credit: Thomas Beindit

Check out the postgame:

Post-Game Notebook: Michigan vs. Kentucky

Target Spotlight: Devin Booker

Atlanta, a place Kentucky did not go this year.

Michigan missed on what I believe was the best recruit they were going after in the 2014 class.  Devin Booker selected Kentucky over others.  However, I had a preview already written up, so here's a breakdown on him if you can stomach it:

Booker is listed at 6'6" and 194 lbs.  He is currently ranked as a 5* according to the 247Composite rankings, as the #5 shooting guard in the nation, and as the #1 player in Mississippi.  Booker committed to Kentucky over Michigan, MSU, Missouri, and others.

Skills: 
Booker's bread and butter is his shooting.  He's not only a very good outside shooter, but he's a very good spot up shooter and has a deadly stepback jumper.  Defenders have to stay completely dedicated to Booker because if they give him any space, a shot's probably going up.  Along with his shooting, he can effectively use ball screens to drive the lane.  When he does this, he also protects the ball well to avoid turnovers.  Add in a decent crossover and he becomes a really good offensive weapon.  When he does get to the rim, he can make some impressive dunks and can adjust to finish at the basket.  He can also move well without the ball and make cuts to the basket that really threaten defenses.  Finally, he has solid athleticism, can run the court, and can use his hands and length to disrupt a lot of shots on the defensive end of the floor.

Limits: 
As with most 5* recruits, this list is pretty short.  The biggest things that Booker needs to do to improve his game are to improve his defense and strength.  His defense is certainly not bad, but there are times when he allows an opponent to get to the edge of get enough space to do some damage.  Of course, this happens to everybody, but being aggressive and physical is important when playing against lengthy college players.  Along with this, his frame is pretty small considering his height.  To be able to be a threat driving to the lane in college, he could definitely use a little more weight and strength.  Finally, there are times when he can't quite finish at the basket and opponents will try to be physical with Booker to disrupt his game.  This is where the added strength will help, but of course, this is a minor note since he often goes to the free throw line as a result of these plays and hits upwards of 80% of his free throws .

Quick Prediction:
Booker is going to be a really good college player and will probably be selected pretty highly in the NBA Draft sooner rather than later.  Booker has the potential to be a deadly outside shooter like Stauskas, but also handle the ball like a Hardaway.  He has a very bright future in the college game.

#1 National 2015 Prospect Karl Towns To Visit Michigan

In somewhat surprising news, one of the biggest recruits in the country will be visiting Michigan this weekend for the game against Air Force.  Karl Towns, Jr., a 2015 recruit from New Jersey, is one of the most impressive players in the nation and has gotten rave ratings so far in his recruitment process.  So impressive in fact, that multiple sites have already given him 5* status and ESPN has given him the coveted #1 spot on their ESPN25 list for the 2015 class.  There's no need to express how impressive that accomplishment is for Towns.

There are a multitude of factors that make Towns an impressive athlete.  First, he's already massive, standing at 6'11" and weighing 235 lbs.  He could certainly add a little strength, but remember, he's only a sophomore in high school right now.  Along with his size, he is an amazing shooter, especially for a big man.  There are some great shooting big men out there and a few that are solid shooters on Michigan's current roster, but Towns can easily shoot up to 25 feet and from 3 pt range.  He isn't afraid to use his shooting ability either and doesn't hesitate in his delivery.  He also has decent speed and can run in transition.  On the defensive side, he is a great rebounder and can also make an impact through his blocking.  To be blunt, his only real weakness right now is some strength issues.  He is a player that can make a massive impact on both sides of the court and change a team's dynamic.