Mr. Yost

April 17th, 2015 at 3:15 AM ^

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.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Young John Beilein

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.

Joined: 02/28/2012

MGoPoints: 1533

Leonhall

April 16th, 2015 at 9:39 PM ^

Made tons of improvement, doesn't "barely dunk," those clips are almost a year old.
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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Joined: 06/14/2012

MGoPoints: 16430

Coldwater

April 16th, 2015 at 9:48 PM ^

We'll take your word for it that's he's improved from those film clips. But he's a slow twitch athlete. He doesn't move well at all. Yes, he can get somewhat quicker and faster through workouts and training. But can he improve enough to be an impact player in the Big Ten? Is he going to be able to defend big men that project to the NBA?

Joined: 12/14/2008

MGoPoints: 11234

bluesalt

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.)

 

Joined: 11/02/2011

MGoPoints: 8490

Tedbossman

April 17th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^

You ever play sports? How about more specifically, partake in serious weight training? I can tell you when I was 15/16 I was fully grown but when I was 20-22(college age) after years of weight training, I was about 5 times the athlete. Same person with the same natural ability I was just stronger, had more muscle. Point is, Davis can and absolutely will improve his athleticism.

Joined: 01/07/2014

MGoPoints: 1909

CaliUMfan

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. 

Joined: 03/15/2010

MGoPoints: 3255

ST3

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.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52332

ST3

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. 

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52332

Michigan4Life

April 16th, 2015 at 9:35 PM ^

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.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 24988

hailtothevictors08

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. 

Joined: 06/11/2009

MGoPoints: 3973

TatersGonnaTate

April 16th, 2015 at 9:38 PM ^

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!

Joined: 10/22/2010

MGoPoints: 1258

Qmatic

April 16th, 2015 at 9:47 PM ^

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.

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 32582

cobra14

April 16th, 2015 at 9:45 PM ^

I was mad if Michigan was going to offer the big kid from John Glenn. Instead this happens. A NC game followed by elite 8 run has done nothing for recruiting. What a shame.

Joined: 05/16/2012

MGoPoints: 8448

FauxMichBro

April 16th, 2015 at 9:47 PM ^

ugh, oh well. i'm officially done following hoops recruiting. a year ago, it looked like 2016 would be the break through year after those tourney runs.

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 3297