MBB: Visit reaction from T.J. Leaf

Submitted by Raoul on

Steve Lorenz of 247 interviewed 6-9 forward T.J. Leaf following his unofficial visit to Michigan today. Leaf, ranked #21 in the country in the 2016 class per the 247 composite, came away from the visit saying that "Michigan would be definitely near or at the top after an offer, provided I get one"—and he "has been basically assured that he will get one" come June 15.

He touched on his potential role at Michigan:

"Michigan likes to run a point guard, a center and then three players who are versatile and can create," he said. "The coaches have brought up Glenn Robinson to me a couple times before as far as a comparison, but nothing too specific. They say I'm a perfect fit for the offense and I agree. I really like that about Michigan and I also really like the fact that Coach Beilein is under contract there until the 2019-2020 season. I don't have to worry about him not potentially being there if I was to play there."

That last point is an interesting one given that one of Michigan's chief competitors for Leaf is Indiana. How certain can Leaf be that Crean will be around by the time he gets to campus?

Leaf also talked about the amount of attention he's been getting from Michigan:

"I can't talk to the coaches because of NCAA rules, but my dad hears from Michigan quite a bit," Leaf noted. "I would say Coach Jordan and my dad talk about three or four times a week. That's probably more than any other school as far as contact goes. Michigan has been very aggressive in recruiting me."

Both this article and an Indy Star piece from yesterday indicate that Leaf doesn't have a timetable for making a decision, but he thinks he might decide in early 2015. The Indy Star article notes that Leaf has a lot of family in Indiana, and his dad grew up in Indianapolis a Hoosiers fan. Leaf says he feels he's a top priority for Indiana.

UCLA and Arizona are mentioned as the other schools that are recruiting him the hardest. He also picked up an offer from Iowa today.

madmaxweb

May 19th, 2014 at 7:25 PM ^

I've seen that June 15 is an offer day for the 2015 class can anyone explain why that is? Why is Michigan only offering on June 15 but Iowa is offering now. Is it just a date that Belien says "we won't offer anyone till this date to make sure we fulfill our obligations on scouting" or something different? Thanks for the help.

Raoul

May 19th, 2014 at 7:45 PM ^

That policy is based on a recommendation that the National Association of Basketball Coaches put forth several years ago. Beilein uses that guideline so that he can see a prospect's academic progress through two full years of high school.

Note that it's June 15 following the prospect's sophomore year. So this year's June 15 offers will be for the 2016 class, not 2015.

FreddieMercuryHayes

May 19th, 2014 at 7:52 PM ^

Good God, stay away from Tom Crean and IU.  You do not want any part of that.  That said, what's the chances he actually doesn't play center?  It seems like Belein has one true center on the roster and a lot of stretch 4's. Someone's going to have to provide depth.  Is UM targeting some more centers?

alum96

May 19th, 2014 at 8:39 PM ^

Wilson is not a 5 in any way shape or form and you certainly know that.  Too much focus on "height" rather than "build".  Jalen Rose was 6'9 and if he was another inch would not be a center just as Wilson is not.  He might be is 205-210 lbs soaking wet (but it looks like HS exaggeration stat counting) and has that Tayshaun Prince/Caris LeVert build... would be physically overmatched playing the 5 on defense if we are being serious.*

*and yes I know Zach Novak did it for a few minutes in 2011.

This kid Leaf also doesn't look like a 5 from his build or game.  Remember what Bacari said - your position is determined by who you play on defense.  And taken from the quotes in the OP - basically UM has a 1, a 5, and "wings", and they positioned Leaf among the wings.

I would prefer a 2015 5 because I think you are playing with fire with Doyle and Donnal as your "real" 5s (Max is sort of a stocky emergency 5).  One injury to either of the D-men and you are screwed at that position.  Best case you get that 5 in 2015 and redshirt him and he is ready to go as a RS FR in 2016 and provide depth and step into a major role in 2017.  But it seems all our major targets at 5 have not been receptive so maybe that gets moved out to 2016.  It is the one position I'd rather redshirt just about anyone who comes into the program who is not of Cliff Alexander, Okafur, McGary level.

reanimator

May 19th, 2014 at 8:54 PM ^

I disagree. Wilson is up to 220 fyi. Wilson is a better shotblocker than Doyle/Donnal (Smote too) at the HS level and a good rebounder. 6'9'', 7'2'' wingspan, athletic, can run the floor, can pop, can strecth the D. Put up 29 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots against future top 5 pick and bigman Ivan Rabb. I will screenshot this and repost when Wilson is our starting center.

reanimator

May 19th, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^

Both players follow closely in line with Michigan’s recruiting philosophy of placing the utmost value on versatility. In fact, Michigan assistant Bacari Alexander said he doesn’t ever want to limit a player by telling him exactly what position he is. Instead, the coach prefers to set players on what he calls a “migration plan,” indicating where they could be.

In the case of Wilson, that could be just about anywhere.

“Our development suggests that (Wilson will) be able to be all over the floor,” Alexander said at Tuesday’s press conference. “There will be times when he may be at the three spot, four spot, five spot. There will be times when he’ll grab rebounds and lead the break, like you’ve seen with Mitch McGary this year. We’re really excited about his skill set, because it’s his skill set that gives him an opportunity to do all those things I described.”

 

http://www.umhoops.com/2014/04/16/early-departures-lead-condensed-recru…

Also John Henson, Brandan Wright, Ibaka, Udoh, Anthony Davis, etx proves length and athleticism > mass 

reanimator

May 19th, 2014 at 9:11 PM ^

Further, the staff wants a shotblocker at the 5 and Wilson was a known shotblocker. Wilson is as tall as Donnal and as long as Doyle. Heck, his 7'2'' wingspan is solid for NBA centers. He is more athletic than Doyle and his ball skills are ahead of Donnal. He is the best option at C in 2015-2016 imo.

alum96

May 19th, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^

I know you keep repeating the Rabb game which was exceptional but DJ averaged 13.9 pts as a senior.  Let's just keep him in perspective.  I agree he is a very good shot blocker and if he is a center one day more power to him - I just want whatever is best for the team and personally I'd love to see Donnal go out to the 4 as a junior along with a true center as our rebounding would be a lot better.  If that 5 is Doyle or Wilson I could care less but I just don't see a center build in Wilson.  He has athleticism but there are a lot of athletic guys who are 210 lbs who don't play center.  Julius Randle is 6'10, 250 lbs and didn't play center, he played 4 for Kentucky and he has a lot more of a college 5 "look" to his body.  McGary, Horford, and Morgan are/were all 250 lbs.  Even Max is 240ish... Doyle 255, Donnal 235 etc.

Again, I am curious how accurate his weight is - from the photos he looks like a stick figure at this point aka Caris LeVert as a freshman but just spread over an extra 3-4 inches of height.  Maybe his pictures are deceiving but in that one photo next to Kam, Kam looked built and Wilson looked like Tayshaun Prince.   Maybe you are thinking of Wilson as a poor man's skinnier Marcus Camby type and maybe he will be that in 2 years but at this point I don't see it.

Raoul

May 19th, 2014 at 8:56 PM ^

I'm in the camp that says a 2015 center isn't an absolute necessity, but as you say there don't seem to be any legitimate prospects anyway. I like Sam's recruiting primer, but I do wish he'd drop some of the 2015 prospects he lists under "top targets." Diamond Stone, for example, most recently talked about definitely being a package deal with Malik Newman, so you can cross him off the list.

alum96

May 19th, 2014 at 9:46 PM ^

Yes I think circumstances are pushing a 5 target out to 2016.  On ESPN Diamond and Zimmerman are ranked 4-5, hadn't realized until I really looked closer at the 2015s - so those are some mighty serious fish Beilein was going for early.  Doesn't seem like the big men class of 2015 is so awe inspiring as the 2014 overall.  With those 2 guys off the table I am not sure there is another 2015 5 in Beilein's radar.

alum96

May 19th, 2014 at 7:59 PM ^

I get picking Indiana on tradition rather than recent results because hey...that's effectively what we are currently selling in our football program but Crean over Beilein in any form blows by mind.

Raoul

May 19th, 2014 at 10:46 PM ^

Ahmad, the 6-7 forward from Cleveland ranked #63 in the 2015 class, seems likely to eventually pick OSU, but this article that followed his visit to Maryland does mention that he still plans to visit Michigan (and MSU as well). He's visiting West Virginia tomorrow.

Raoul

May 20th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^

A bit of an update on Eron Harris from the Indy Star. Basically, a Michigan visit is still planned but not yet set up:

Harris, who averaged 17.2 points as a sophomore at West Virginia, said he's planning to get to Michigan "sometime in the next two weeks or month."

"We're still working on it," he said. "Nothing's really changed, but I'm communication with the coaches. We just have to figure out a date that works."

Raoul

May 21st, 2014 at 1:55 PM ^

Wrapping up a quixotic recruitment:

Virginia just gave their last scholarship to a transfer from Tennessee, so it was Kansas or Europe for Mykhailiuk.

Also: new article on Brevin Pritzl says "he has no immediate plans to commit to a college."