Hoops Recruiting: The Weekly Wing Edition
I was in Indianapolis for Nike EYBL over the weekend as the second live evaluation period of 2022 kicked-off. While Michigan has a bevy of wing-forwards in the stable, recruiting never ceases in the portal era where programs have to functionally re-recruit their own players.
With that in mind, let's take a look at which prospects the staff viewed on the road this weekend and the relative hierarchy.
Matas Buzelis
Height/Weight: Measured at 6'10 in shoes + 183 pounds with 6'10 Wingspan at 2022 Nike Hoop Summit.
High School/AAU: Brewster Academy (NH)/Nike EYBL Expressions Elite (MA)
Weekend Performance: 14.8ppg, 4reb, 1blk on 71% FG and 44.4% from distance in four games
Mainstream Ranking: 5-star/Top 25 Overall
EM Ranking/Evaluation: Projected impact aligns with that of a 5-star prospect. Gifted offensive player that can score + playmake for others at 6'10, while being a potent shooter that can also serve as a floor-spacing wing or pick + pop big. Elite offensive skill coupled with NBA size generally translates to great on-court impact when projecting. His profile took a bit of a hit after a relatively underwhelming junior season at Brewster, where concerns about motor + athleticism manifested. Still, its hard not to see shades of Gordon Hayward when watching Matas despite potential issues in terms of defense and/or motor.
Recruitment: I'm told this recruitment is more viable for Michigan than accepted wisdom will have you believe. The staff recently conducted a home visit + Zoom call with Buzelis last week and that carries some weight where resources are limited. Juwan Howard was front row for Matas twice on Saturday as well. This is a big-boy recruitment with Kentucky heavily involved. But Michigan has some traction here and the staff is putting forth a strong effort to land Matas.
Gavin Griffiths
Height/Weight: Listed at 6'6 - 6'7 and 180 - 185. That looks about right.
High School/AAU: Kingswood-Oxford School (CT)/Nike EYBL Expressions Elite (MA)
Weekend Performance: Out with Injury.
Mainstream Ranking: 4-Star/Top 15-65 Overall
EM Ranking/Evaluation: I have yet to see Griffiths play live (injured this Spring), but the film displays an outstanding shooter that connects on triples with pull-ups and movement via screens + hand-offs + relocations. Solid handle, but probably not a primary shot-creator. Decent athlete, but lacks twitchiness. Has the look of a floor-spacing wing that can serve as a secondary playmaker.
Recruitment: Will be in Ann Arbor for official visit on 6/14. Also has OVs scheduled to Rutgers and Virginia Tech. Tough to get a read on where things stand since coaches haven't seen him play during the April live evaluation periods and can't properly slot him on their respective priority boards. For Michigan's purposes, getting an OV obviously means there is serious mutual serious interest.
[After THE JUMP: Mayar Wol]
Mayar Wol
Height/Weight: Listed at 6'8 and 190 pounds and that looks accurate
High School/AAU: Moravian Prep (NC)/Adidas 3SSB Team Loaded North Carolina
Weekend Performance: Weekend stats not available for Adidas event
Mainstream Ranking: Unranked
EM Ranking/Evaluation: Projected impact of a top-50 prospect. Has tremendous perimeter shotmaking ability, NBA range and nearly flawless mechanics. The ability to hit pull-ups from both distance and midrange is extremely intriguing in tandem with his size. Wol handles the ball fairly well and is a good run + jump athlete. Defensively he definitely makes an impact at the point of attack and altering shots with his length.
Recruitment: Starting to blow-up in the two weeks after my initial report. Over that time period offers have come in from Georgia, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech and VCU. Would expect more in the coming weeks. Michigan is just now making preliminary contact, so the relationship is in the infancy stages and so is his overall recruitment.
April 26th, 2022 at 11:22 AM ^
"It's not the X's and O's, it's the Jimmy and Joes."
Not any more: James & Joseph, Richard and Robert are old-school.
Now it's the Moussas and Matases and Mayars.
April 26th, 2022 at 11:35 AM ^
Nice report. I cannot help but see some similarities to Franz in Buzelis. Maybe not quite the athlete but maybe a better handle.
April 26th, 2022 at 11:40 PM ^
Yeah, he also reminds me of guys like Hunter Dickinson, Zack Novak, Nik Stauskas, Spike Albrecht, and Mark Donnal. Something about his legs maybe.
April 26th, 2022 at 11:36 AM ^
These recruiting updates are great and much appreciated. But sometimes it feels as if they tend to suggest Michigan is more in play than it really is. The major sites don't seem to see Michigan as a major contender Buzelis, for example. Maybe they're wrong?
April 26th, 2022 at 11:38 AM ^
The major sites don't seem to see Michigan as a major contender Buzelis, for example. Maybe they're wrong?
The "Recruitment" section for him directly addresses this
April 26th, 2022 at 11:52 AM ^
Remember when I was the only evaluator/analyst that stated Caleb Houstan to Michigan was likely when everyone else (namely Eric Bossi) shitted on that take? Turns out Michigan was very much in play.
Point is that sometime mainstreams aren't as plugged into a recruitment as they would like to think. I'm not saying that's the case for Buzelis, but it could very well be.
I get things wrong all the time, the staff can read things poorly at times as well...............but so do the mainstreams.
Did he call the shat shitted?
Dot on 247 has been hinting that the Buzelis stuff is legit for a while now
April 26th, 2022 at 11:37 AM ^
I want Buzelis so bad. Howard needs to show him some Franz film
April 26th, 2022 at 11:53 AM ^
Trust me, the comparison has been made to the appropriate folks.
Looked more like a tall Stauskas to me with his handle and shooting, but either way we need that kid.
If there are questions about defense and motor, it doesn't seem like a Franz comp is appropriate. Also, if his wing span is only 6'10, he's lacking in length. That's the wing span of a 6'5 or 6'6 guy. Which is a bad sign for defense.
The Stauskas but taller comp makes more sense.
If there are questions about defense and motor, it doesn't seem like a Franz comp is appropriate.
It was more him being a 6'10" white European dude who can handle the ball
Also, if his wing span is only 6'10, he's lacking in length. That's the wing span of a 6'5 or 6'6 guy.
Wingspan is usually about equal to height. A 6'10" dude having a 6'10" wingspan is pretty standard. Anything more than that is a benefit
April 27th, 2022 at 10:30 AM ^
Yes 1:1 is average for people. It is not average for great basketball players. Over the years it seemed wingspan ratio, more than height, was the best indicator to making it to the top. So I have been loosely paying attention to that stat and it holds true.
The NBA has more people with 1.1:1 wingspan than 1:1. For more reference, that distribution is skewed high among the NBA range where 1.12:1 was recently the max in the NBA and 1.03:1 was the min in recent NBA drafts. The NBA is heavily populated with the largest wingspan ratios from a total population that averages 1:1.
Franz is 6' 9" with a 6' 11.5" wingspan.
April 27th, 2022 at 11:03 AM ^
Like I said, having extra wingspan is a bonus and the NBA definitely likes it, but the notion that Buzelis being 6'10" with a 6'10" wingpsan is somehow lacking length or means he won't be good is pretty ludicrous. He's still a wing/guard who has a 6'10" wingspan. Sorry he doesn't have an extra inch or two on his arms to meet your magic ratios
April 26th, 2022 at 11:39 AM ^
I could see our defense improving with another brick in Wol.
Ehhh... UM bball's not really been short of bricks.
April 26th, 2022 at 11:44 AM ^
"despite potential issues in terms of defense and/or motor."
Unless I was watching the wrong guy the whole time, the assertion that Buzelis has issues with "motor" is weird if not straight BS. The kid is surprisingly nimble and quick-footed for 6'-10"—he's not some clumsy, lumbering, slow-footed lunk.
April 26th, 2022 at 12:21 PM ^
Motor is about energy level, motivation, and effort. Physical athletic traits like agility have nothing to do with it.
"Motor is about energy level, motivation, and effort."
That's my point—where in the video is he displaying a lack of energy, motivation, or effort? From what I watched, he's always got his feet moving, not standing around waiting for something to happen.
You're not gonna get that from a highlight video
You don’t know what motor means.
April 26th, 2022 at 12:26 PM ^
Matt, would you assume that any one of these players would be 'takes' for the staff? They all seem to be very capable players who could be immediate positive contributors by their second seasons, and probably freshman season in Buzelis's case. I can't help but see shades of Kevin Huerter in Gavin Griffiths.
Also, you've recently commented about less high-end HS-level basketball talent. Does this year's recruiting class seem to be a continuation of that trend?
April 26th, 2022 at 12:37 PM ^
Buzelis + Griffiths are absolutely takes. Wol further down the board as of now.
And yes, the 23 class is VERY weak. It’s the first cycle I can recall where EYBL teams are trotting out D2 level prospects with some sort of regularity.
April 26th, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^
I know that you have talked about the level of HS/ AAU players being down recently.
Is this just that the players aren't as good? Has the level of college ball risen with the covid year and older guys?
Any insight into what's going on with Barnes?
like all recruiting battles, we'll just have to cross our fingers.
Hoping that Michigan can appeal to Matas on multiple levels beyond the hardwood.
but, we'll see
Matas is from Hinsdale, 20 miles outside of Chicago. #JuwansTurf
what's Jonah Byrde going to do at Michigan, launder money?
I am far far FAR from an expert, but doesn't Wol have a really low release point on his jumper?
He's a 17 year old kid. The release point is a bit low but the mechanics and quick release are, pretty much, impeccable.
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