Hoops Hello: Moritz Wagner
John Beilein picked up his first commit of the 2015 class today when German forward Moritz Wagner announced he'll attend Michigan:
Proud that I gonna be a Wolverine and a part of ichigan next year. Damn grateful for what Alba did for me! This is my club &always will be
— Moe Wagner (@moritz_weasley) April 5, 2015
Wagner chose the college route over playing professionally in Germany for Alba Berlin. Beilein traveled to watch Wagner play for his club team last year, and Michigan jumped to the forefront of Wagner's recruitment when they offered him last month during a campus visit.
GURU RATINGS
Scout | Rivals | ESPN | 247 | 247 Comp |
NR PF | NR PF | -- | -- | -- |
The recruiting services don't evaluate overseas players, so Wagner is unranked across the board. He's listed at 6'9", 210 on Rivals, which fits with reports that he isn't quite a full 6'10", which he was listed at on several sites. When Wagner visited Ann Arbor, Rivals' Eric Bossi found a scout to give his thoughts on where Wagner would be ranked if he were an American prospect:
So, exactly what type of player is Wagner? Rivals.com spoke with an NBA scout over the weekend and the scout said Moritz isn't likely as tall as the 6-foot-10 he's being listed at, but he is plenty big to play as a college four man. The scout said Wagner has good touch, is clever with the ball and that he competes on both ends of the floor.
"He's not a guy that is on our radar as somebody who is going to be a pro right away," said the scout. "He's somebody that we see going to college and then we'll see from there. I'd look at him as a top-20 to top-40 type recruit if he were in the States."
That would put him towards the tail end of the five-stars or among the top four-stars, which... yeah, that sounds nice.
SCOUTING
Scout's Evan Daniels caught up with an NBA Scout to get his take on Wagner's game:
From the video I’ve been able to get my hands on, Wagner’s all around skill set is what immediately stands out. He has impressive hands, good touch around the basket and can score both facing the rim and with his back to it.
“He’s a versatile kid who knows how to play ball,” a NBA scout that has evaluated him multiple times told Scout. “He’s not an athlete, but with his length and coordination he manages to deceive his opponents and get to the rack quiet easily. Once he becomes a more consistent shooter he will be a nightmare on the wing.”
“He reads the game well, gets his teammates involved and is unselfish player,” the NBA scout added. “The most impressive thing about him is his passion for the game and the will to win. He legitimately cares for the game.”
This scouting report from European Prospects comes from last May:
The young Moritz Wagner is a really interesting prospect for the future. Used as a PF on multiple occasions, Wagner showed that he has an outside game and that his future should be on the SF position. He can shoot from outside, either on catch-and-shoot situations or in the Pick and Pop when being the screener. Wagner can also put the ball on the floor which works particularly well when used against taller power forwards. He is also able to drive with direction changes and finish against stronger or taller players in the paint. Athletically, he is looking good and with his overall length, he is a good vertical presence on both sides of the court. Wagner really needs to be used on the wing positions in the future as he has the tools to become an interesting long small forward in the future.
Wagner still needs to hone his outside shot, but he's got great length for a Beilein wing, and he should be able to create offense off the dribble. While he isn't regarded as a one-and-done talent, his German team very much wanted to sign him to a pro contract, but Wagner reportedly wants to make it to the NBA and believes Michigan provides him the best path to get there.
OFFERS
Wagner's narrow focus on Michigan didn't allow for many other schools to come under serious consideration. When he was planning his visit, he'd also heard from Arizona, Auburn, Cal, Duke, Providence, Virginia, and UNLV. That's a pretty impressive list of suitors for an overseas prospect making a late decision.
STATS
In the NBBL (German youth league), Wagner is averaging 17 points, 5 rebounds, two assists and two steals per game while shooting 61% on twos and 30% on threes. He also averaged 9.6 points and 5.4 rebounds during the Adidas Next Generation U18 Tournament, helping Alba Berlin to a third-place finish.
Playing with Germany’s U18 team in the FIBA Euro Championships, Wagner averaged 5.2 points and three rebounds in 10 minutes a game.
The outside shot needs some work, but that's some impressive efficiency inside the arc.
VIDEO
Going from most to least recent:
While his athleticism doesn't jump off the screen, his skill level is apparent.
PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE
Wagner is going to need some time adding bulk at Camp Sanderson, and his slight physique—and still-developing shot—may limit his minutes as a freshman, especially if Caris LeVert comes back and a logjam results on the wings. He'll most likely be competing with Duncan Robinson and Kameron Chatman for a spot in the rotation, and of the three we've only been able to see Chatman play at this level.
Down the road, he's a very intriguing prospect. Michigan really missed having a player at the four who could create off the dribble, and while Aubrey Dawkins made some progress in that regard late in the season, Wagner looks like the most polished slasher among the guys who could play at that spot. If his outside shot comes along, he could be a very impactful stretch four.
UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS
Wagner's commitment means Michigan is currently at the scholarship limit for 2015-16, and that's assuming Max Bielfeldt will move on to another program for his fifth year, as expected. If LeVert departed for the NBA, that'd open up a spot. Michigan is still in pursuit of five-star 2015 forward Jaylen Brown, and should he decide he wants to attend, it's hard to imagine Michigan wouldn't have a spot for him, perhaps by putting Austin Hatch on medical scholarship; there have been some positive indicators for Brown since his visit, but he's still expected to end up elsewhere.
Unless Brown makes a surprise choice to come to Michigan, this should be the conclusion of the program's 2015 recruiting.
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I've always wanted a European player that fans of every other school will irrationally hate. Mortiz fits the bill perfectly.
"Unless Brown makes a surprise choice to come to Michigan, this should be the conclusion of the program's 2015 recruiting."
The staff is still after Jamal Murray. Also if Caris leaves, they will fill that space IMO.
Murray still hasn't decided on reclassifying. Right now, he is still 2016.
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I'm struggling to find a comparison for the guy...he can do a little bit of everything, but he's not exactly elite at any one thing (going off his game film).
Who does he remind you all of? Anyone?
Less athletic Trey Lyles with a better jumpshot? Freshman Frank Kaminsky? Less athletic Brice Johnson with a better jumpshot?
Ersan Ilyasova? Young Steve Novak?
Of course you want to call him Baby Dirk.
Detlef?
Those highlight tapes were pretty similar except one I could see and one looked like it was a TV at the bottom of the bathtub.
Young Detlef!
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I would take that all day for this team. Wisconsin and Michigan have similar offensive systems. Not a bad comparison.
Dekker is a lot more athletic if the reports on Moritz are true.
I think Wagner looks more in the Pittsnogle mold. Or probably more accurately, somewhere between Dekker and Pittsnogle on the athleticism continuum.
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Aaron White is a phenomenal athlete. Wagner is more than a little less athletic than him.
Justin Jackson at UNC... Solid outside jumper and very adept at creating his own shot
Mike Dunleavy, Jr. without the three point shot? That would be my expectation.
Tim McCormick just compared him to....wait for it... Evan Smot.
But I suppose I can see that comparison.
What the hell does that mean?
Learn the code.
than 60 grit sandpaper.
Should be noted that those numbers are coming with the FIBA 3-point line, which is a little over a foot deeper than the NCAA line.
GRIII was about a 30% shooter from distance, and helped stretch the defense quite a bit. If Wagner's floor is at that level that is a major positive, and a big upgrade from this past season when either Chatman struggled from outside or we played a smaller guy at the 4.
Sorry: he can't use Flight of the Valkyries. Daniel Bryan would sue him for "gimmick infringement."
needs to play this at games every time he does something awesome. Also there should be a Maize and Blue German flag in the students section.
What I learned from this video is that Europe does not believe in hanging-on-the-rim technicals.
In all seriousnes, a polished guy who would be a borderline five start. Yes please.
If Caris comes back this team has a plethora of options and loads of potential. My only real worry/hope is that Wilson can come back from injury and compete at the 5. Donnal, like Smotrycz before him, just can't play that spot (not that he should have to, both were thrust into a tough role that doesn't really fit their skillset).
If Wilson can help Doyle to cover most/all of the minutes at the 5 with solid defense and rebounding, Donnal/Chatman/Wagner (maybe Robinson) gives you loads of versatile options at the 4. Levert and Irvin can be backed up by Dawkins and Robinson. You can go small and play Spike and Walton together. You can go huge and play Levert at the point and maybe put a guy like Wagner at the three if his outside shot improves a little.
If Brown commits shit gets bananas.
especially concerning Donnal. He is taking a bad rap because he is playing out of position and isn't very good at it. However, I think he could be great at the 4, especially with his outside shot. All Wilson has to be at the 5 is better than Donnal was. Mark can always pick up minutes as the third guy there to help out in foul trouble or injury. Donnal/Chatman/Wagner gives us great size at the 4 and Irvin/Robinson/Hawkins is pretty sweet at the 3.
Beilein is running this program like the San Antonio spurs and I love it
the club he plays for have beaten San Antonio Spurs in preseason even though it's a senior level club but he got limited PT which is impressive for his age. He is the star for the youth/junior club and he's only 17 years old so the potential is there for him to develop into a really good SF in the next level.
I take this to mean that (1) LeVert is leaving (but, I don't think so), or (2) Brown isn't coming (more likely). I always assumed that the first scholarship option would go to Brown if he wanted it, then Wagner then Edwards or Miller.
Let's hope that this kid, since he is 6'9"+ will someday turn into our Sam Dekker.
Not necessarily... Max B is just about for sure leaving thus opening up a scholarship for Wagner. In addition, there is a solid chance Hatch receives a medical hardship waiver thus opening up another scholarship. I still think we are very much in contention for Brown, and I still think there is a solid chance Caris decides to stay one more season
Moritz and Brown. I wouldn't read anything into this commitment other than he expects to have at least two spots open.
I might be drinking too much of the kool-aid and a tiny bit crazy, but I think this team is back and competing for a B1G title and quite possibly a national title next season.
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Can't wait for our German engineered offense next year!
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