2015 MBB Recruiting: 6'10" 3* PF/C Mike Edwards (Westland, MI)
As first reported ($) by Chris Balas over at TheWolverine.com, Michigan hosted 2015 big man Mike Edwards out of Westland John Glenn high school this past weekend. He's a 3* with most notable offers from Georgia, Kansas State, and Nebraska. Apparently he is a very late bloomer and his recruitment has just started to take off during the tail end of his senior year. From the sounds of things, he frankly wasn't that good throughout high school, but put in a ton of work over the summer and really blossomed this year.
His film reminds me of Gavin Schilling. He's quite athletic and has good feet for a big guy. He runs the court well and has a very physical/aggressive style of play. As to the negatives, he seems to lack touch outside of a couple feet and his skill level is very raw. There is clearly some high upside, though.
As to the German kid, Mo Wagner, I'd think he's still in play since they'll likely play different positions. I think this does mean, though, that Beilein sees some attrition on the horizon vis-a-vis the 4/5 spot.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
With Teske coming in 2016, I'm not seeing him as a perfect fit, If the staff thinks he has a high ceiling, he could be a good pickup. I see him as addressing an eventual need, not replacing Bielfeldt. Since bigs usually need time to develop, it's hard to project what our depth will look like in the future.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:11 AM ^
And Lloyd Carr's old stomping grounds.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:27 AM ^
And Yo_Blue's old stomping grounds.
...as well as Tony Boles and Da'Mario Jones.
Highlights link here: http://youtu.be/GgCbmPGq978
(this computer won't embed)
He's definitely a project, but he's got a good frame. He needs to get stronger and a little more aggressive on the boards, I think.
Pad level.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:30 AM ^
Loved seeing the big guy bring the ball upcourt a couple times!
March 24th, 2015 at 11:07 AM ^
Anyone who shoots 100% from the field is a good recruit in my book. Sign him up.
March 24th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^
Ok. First highlight is goaltending, but the last play on the tape is actually pretty sick. Needs a lot of work but looks like a good athlete with great size. I hope for him that it's just the case that he has never received any good coaching. If he can develop a short range jumper to go along with the 1-2 dribble drives he could be a good player. He could at least be as good as Amir williams.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
That's not very good at all. Williams might be one of the worst big men in the country.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:59 PM ^
Yeah. No argument here. But he does start at OSU, so I'm just saying he is worthy of consideration whereas previously he was completely off the radar. UMHoops has much more video and info. Looks like he went from averaging 4 pts/ gm as a junior to 22 and 12 rebs as a senior. So it's safe to say that he is not at his full potential. He looks like he works hard on defense and he really does have a great frame. I think he's definitely worth an offer especially if we lose anyone. Kinda tough to gauge his fit with the roster in the next few years, but he's worth keeping an eye on. Could turn out to be a poor man's blake griffin. (full disclosure: yes, the last part was probably influenced by the fact that he is bi-racial).
Well with the depth at the 4-5, taking a project, redshirting him and then seeing what you get in 3 years isn't a terrible idea.
I thought they had subs
you can't teach height but I have faith in the staff to teach everything else. This sounds like one of those Iowa/Nebraska type kids that in 3 years we play and bites us in the ass.
Dude actually moves really well. Thats a coach B player for sure.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^
User cobra14 made a dickish comment, one that can only be seen on the app, so it appears that the other replies are responding to Landry, which is not the case.
Enjoy talking to yourself, cobra.
There's a "cobra14" userid that's apparently been banned, so he (quite hilariously) and his trolling are showing up on the mobile app, but not the board. Both of your comments above (as well as bronxblue's above that) are in response to that troll, but look odd on the board because the troll's been rolled.
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We need an athletic 5. Someone that clean up the glass, block shots and dunk thats it. Our 5 in our system is a screener, rebounder and dunker. He could fit this role. I love Doyle but he is really unathletic and struggles at finishing. I believe he will improve his verticle in the offseason though. I was watching some Mitch Mcgary highlights vs Kansas and thats all he did. Layups, Screens, Dunks. He was a star for that.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^
You undervalue how good Mitch McGary is/ was. Not many players can catch and finish the way he does off of pick and roll.
We need an athletic 5. Someone that clean up the glass, block shots and dunk thats it. Our 5 in our system is a screener, rebounder and dunker. He could fit this role. I love Doyle but he is really unathletic and struggles at finishing. I believe he will improve his verticle in the offseason though. I was watching some Mitch Mcgary highlights vs Kansas and thats all he did. Layups, Screens, Dunks. He was a star for that.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^
March 24th, 2015 at 10:10 AM ^
March 24th, 2015 at 10:11 AM ^
you have also been cobra14'd
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Caris will be back. So, if Jaylen Brown comes, I think Final Four is a definite possibility.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:07 AM ^
It would be a pretty major shock if Jaylen Brown came to Michigan. On the other hand the chatter continues to make it sound like Caris is coming back, which would be monumental.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:23 AM ^
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Sounds like he'd be a project, but considering the very apparent lack of height this team has, I think he'd be a great addition. As we all know, no one can question Beilein's ability to identify talent and maximize it to its fullest potential.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:16 AM ^
Lack of height? Ricky Doyle is 6'10", Mark Donnal and DJ Wilson are both 6'9", and Duncan Robinson is listed at 6'8" (although I have a hard time believing that). We have plenty of height for next year, it just so happened that our guys with height this past year either weren't very good or couldnt' play due to injury or transfer.
EDIT: Should probably note that there's speculation of attrition in the big man ranks, so I can see how your lack of height comment makes sense if that occurs.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:25 AM ^
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March 24th, 2015 at 11:22 AM ^
Look at the rotation last year and who was basically frozen out the last 15 games of the Big 10 year?
As for this kid if OP is right and he is a Schilling type that is exactly what we need. Everyone seems to only focus on offense in these HS evaluations but a guy who can elevate, protect the rim, and provide some bruiser status is needed. I don't love Schilling's basketball IQ but he is a physical specimen and I dont care if he cant shoot. Just cleaning up other players garbage should get someone 8 pts a night in 30 minutes. That is 90% of what Brandon Dawson does, aside from alley oops and he gets 12 a night.
I dont know if Schilling type is this kid - but our interior defense has been weak for most of the past 4 years save for a spell late 2013-2014 when Morgan turned it on (but when he was on the bench it was back to frightful) and parts of 2012-2013 with Mitch. (Morgan was benched at that time a lot). We lack athleticism inside - plain and simple. No one fears driving the lane, no one fears getting a shot blocked, no one fears getting outmuscled, and teams just crash the boards and get second chances all night. Yes you can alleviate that by shooting 48% as a team (with 3-4 NBA wings/guards) but that's not going to happen all the time and one bad shooting night in a tourney situation and there is no offset in our system without an inside game.
People keep forgetting that pick and roll game between Mitch and Burke. You dont have to be a great shooter but you need to be able to move your ass, elevate, and be athletic as a big to do it. We have no pick and roll game now.
I am never worried about offense with Beilein coaching - but we need to marry that offense wth rebounding and interior defense. We give up far too many second chance points, give way too many easy points in the paint, etc. The 5 need not be a great shooter but provide a defensive anchor, get rebounds, and make 3-4 put backs a game is fine in Beilein's system.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:38 AM ^
1) There's no way Mark Donnal is 6'9. Official roster lists him as that but it also lists Biefieldt as 6'8 which we both know is horse shit.
2) Even if he was 6'9, he doesn't play that big.
3) Neither Dj Wilson or Duncan Robinson played (or played much in Wilson's case) this year.
So there was definitely a lack of height on this year's squad. When you also subtract Caris' length, we were way too small against a lot of teams.
of his calves
Moreso than a lack of height is the lack of length. To be a rim protector you have to also have long arms (which combined with height is far more important than height alone) and an ability to jump. Doyle and Donnal do not have either of those attributes which is why they can't protect the rim. Jury is still out on Wilson but by all reports he actually does have some length. So we have one potential rim protector who is very skinny and very raw offensively. Robinson is a twig wing player. He's not protecting any rims anytime soon (ever). We need all the length we can get, because this team is severely lacking. Teske can't get here soon enough!
March 24th, 2015 at 10:22 AM ^