Hoops Hello: Austin Davis
Can confirm report by @scoopIPS, 2016 Onsted (Mich.) center Austin Davis has committed to #Michigan http://t.co/E0ckUzNNQx
— Kyle Bogenschutz (@KyleBogie) April 17, 2015
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I'm voting him "7-footer most likely to get swatted by a point guard."
You can tell he knows what he's doing. But he's slow and he can't jump. Fundamentally, he's sound - keeps the ball high, nice touch, reads and reacts.
Ideal walk-on canidate who gets a scholarship in his last year or 2 after working hard and coaching not being able to fill out the roster.
Looks like the poorest man's Bryant Reeves.
April 17th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
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April 17th, 2015 at 12:24 PM ^
I agree with this assessment. Also, the only criticism I have and that anyone else has rightly expressed in him as a player is a lack of athleticism. This can be improved easily. He has hands and coordination around that basket that very few centers possess. He has a great frame. And the first highlights posted in this page are from when he was very underdeveloped physically (He was probably 15). Many kids get a little chubby around his age. He already looks way better in the video below:
Granted, these are drill, but clearly his body composition is way ahead of where it was last year.
What I am confused about, and other have expressed, is the roster management. I'm thinking it means we have some attrition coming.
April 16th, 2015 at 10:00 PM ^
Austin is a VERY hardworker, has lost over 50 pounds in the last 5 years, he's only 16. Plays very competitive AAU ball. Izzo has visited, Bo Ryan may end up extending an offer. He's a big boy with a good touch and can knock down jumpers. Athletically he will continue to get better. He's visited IU, Northwestern, Wisconsin, most MAC schools, ND, Purdue, Beilein isn't/wasn't the only D1 coach taking notice, trust me.
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April 16th, 2015 at 10:49 PM ^
There are definitely drills and stretching routines you can do to help to a certain extent, especially as a growing body. The bigger point depends on when he went through his growth spurt. It is not at all uncommon for strength and coordination to lag behind a growth spurt, especially for someone who's 6'10". A lot of his muscles may not have caught up yet to supporting his size yet (or they may not have a year ago when the videos were made.)
April 16th, 2015 at 11:14 PM ^
April 17th, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^
Do you think it's possible for anyone to improve upon the ability to make a coherent argument?
April 17th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^
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April 17th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
As an 18 year old 6 foot tall 190lb senior in high school, I could barely dunk. As a 21 year old 6 foot tall 215lb Junior in college, I could put my elbow on the rim. You can definitely improve your athleticism through hard work in the gym and natural development from your teen years to young adulthood. I know from experience.
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This kid has crappy skills. Completely dumbfounded.
You are a moron.
April 17th, 2015 at 11:19 AM ^
That was the most inaccurate statement possible. The kid has impressive skill but crappy athleticism.
He looks like he's playing against middle schoolers in that first video
The 10 inch vertical is a tad concerning looking at those highlight tapes
April 16th, 2015 at 11:54 PM ^
I'm pretty sure Xavier's Matt Stainbrook has less than a 10 inch vertical, but he was a revelation during the NCAA tournament. The biggest question for me is, can you play the game? Davis has good coordination for a kid that size. Under Beilein's tutelage, I think he'll develop nicely.
Nobody has really mentioned the positives of his game: He has decent footwork and pretty good touch, especially on the hook shot. If Beilein thinks he can make this kid athletic enough to play B1G basketball, it's an okay offer.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:48 PM ^
From the 3 1/2 minutes I just watched, the kid (and let's remember he's still just a kid,) has real nice touch around the basket and great hands. After watching Doyle and Donnal struggle to finish at the basket this year, I can see what Beilein finds attractive about Davis. The pick-and-roll game that Jordan Morgan thrived in basically disappeared this season due to Doyle's difficulty handling those quick passes from the guards. Davis doesn't appear to have the same problem, but like I said, it's 3 1/2 minutes.
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April 16th, 2015 at 10:04 PM ^
The great ones play better with the flu.
Looks like foul trouble in the post won't be an issue for a few years. Beilein must have meant what he said about refocusing on rim protection.
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Same exact reaction when Jordan committed to Michigan. Not to say he's the next Jordan Morgan, but you need to give it time and trust in JB's evaluations. Jordan has transformed himself from a fringe D1 prospect into a very good B1G big man.
April 16th, 2015 at 10:03 PM ^
Morgan was a bit more athletic, competition better too. But not worlds apart, by any means.
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April 16th, 2015 at 10:07 PM ^
We got Morgan when we were in a "need bodies" phase. Now we need skill and college readiness, not a guy that may or not be a glue player in years 4 and 5.
April 17th, 2015 at 11:04 AM ^
J-MO committed when we needed warm bodies. Remember, he committed in '07, didn't hit campus until '09-10 and didn't play until '10-11. We were also a bad basketball team and not in on high rated guys.
Right now, we are in a numbers crunch. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled for the kid and I think he MAY well end up being very good for us in '18-19 (his redshirt soph or junior yr) and beyond.
The point is, many fans including me, where hoping for instant impact players in such a small class. The hope on this site was the final four followed by an elite 8 would means less projects and more instant.
If this was a five man class, I would love the offer. The problem is it is a 3ish man class and we already have a center committed.
TL/DR: Very happy for the kid and he could be good down the road. The offer is less confusing than the timing/situation.
I'm actually super pumped about this, I graduated from Onsted High School. I never, ever thought I'd see the day where somebody from Onsted gets a Michigan offer, especially in basketball. I haven't seen him play but I sure as heck will next year. Congrats Austin!
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April 16th, 2015 at 10:17 PM ^
OHS Class of 06. Went from the Irish Hills to Ann Arbor, just like Austin.
I had an ex-gf that graduated with you... LOL. Small world!
I feel very confident in saying he will not be Kevin Love
Love was a one and done prospect with a 3 point shot. He is a monster on the boards and a legit back to the basket scorer. This guy can barely dunk.
We need to recruit a top 25 player every couple of years. It looks like 2016 won't be one of those years.
I too do not understand this signing at all. When he comes we'll have a RS Jr Donnal; Jr Doyle, RS Soph Wilson, Soph Wagner, and fellow freshmen Teske.
Walton will be our only scholarship PG on the roster.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:12 PM ^
i think maar can develop into a PG. and dawkins can certainly develop into any of the 2-4 positions. his handle improved a lot during the year; much like irvin.
Yep. Teske will be a quality player, but otherwise this is pretty disappointing.