New Basketball Offer: Marshall Wood
Rivals has a premium article that says in the free header that Michigan has offered 2012 big man Marshall Wood, a quickly rising prospect described in the header as "another young for his grade, highly skilled and high IQ player." His ESPN profile has him at 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, with a three-star ranking.
It appears that Michigan is his highest-profile offer right now, but a West Virginia Illustrated article from a couple weeks ago said that "Wood ranks West Virginia in his top five schools right now, though he only lists WVU and Maryland as teams that really stand out right now." The text accompanying his highlight video that was posted in April had this as his official offer list: St. Joe's, Duquesne, Appalachian State, Akron, Wofford, UNC Charlotte, William and Mary, JMU, Liberty. Among other schools listed with "modest interest" are Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and Xavier.
Offering Wood seems to run counter to the conventional wisdom in the wake of the commitments of Irvin and Walton. For example, Sam Webb said last week that he believed that only top prospects such as Mitch McGary would be candidates for another 2012 commitment. EDIT: Some people are speculating on other boards that Wood may reclassify to the class of 2013, and if he did so he could be a top 100 player.
In the meantime, yesterday NBE Basketball Report posted an interview with Stefan Jankovic, in which Jankovic (another 2012 prospect) continues to indicate that Michigan is among the schools interested in him, although he says Wake Forest is his leading school:
NBE: At this time, what schools are you considering that are actively recruiting you?
SJ: I’d probably have to say Wake Forest, Syracuse, Michigan, Georgetown, Florida State, Missouri, Boston College, Seton Hall, Purdue.
NBE: Any favorites or leaders?
SJ: As of right now Wake Forest would have to be leading. They were there since the beginning and have been showing me the most love.
August 7th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
He definitely knows how to attack the basket.
August 7th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
I clicked on the video prepared to be unimpressed, and quickly did an abrupt about face. I can see why M would have interest. He looks very athletic and a legit 6'7'' if not more.The kid is pretty smooth with his handle and has great explosiveness. Shot probably needs work but the talent is there. Must be a hard worker if Belien is after him.
Come and get tutored by Belien and Co. young fella they will definitely make you a better player skill wise and make you a better teammate.
August 7th, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
I was guessing from that video that he probably didn't have much of an outside shot. I was however surprised to see this quote from a recent article about him: "a potential 3/4 swingman Marshall Wood, who shot 48% from beyond the arc last year."
http://terptalk.com/2011/06/06/turgeon-targeting-68-pf-from-lynchburg-v…
August 7th, 2011 at 10:54 AM ^
Yes, I went back and watched the video a second time and was impressed with his stroke. He didn't take any 3's but he did look good on the shots he did take. I also like the way he set himself up for his J and also, the fact that he likes to take bank shots.
August 7th, 2011 at 11:11 AM ^
I think it's possible that was a misprint, and that was his overall shooting percentage, not for three-pointers. I found the following on a Liberty message board:
Wood shot 47% from the floor and an impressive 74% from the free throw line. He was named First Team All-Seminole District and as junior has the inside track to win the Player of the Year award next season.
EDIT: Also from that thread is an encouraging quote from someone who had seen Wood play:
"got to see him in person when they played Amherst...put some pounds on him and he is gonna be a solid 3 or 4 somewhere...he also has something you dont see a ton of at the high school or college level and that is a very good mid-range game...its the sort of thing that can really spread a defense."
August 7th, 2011 at 10:58 AM ^
Great video - very impressive, particularly the explosiveness he displays. He would definitely look good in maize and blue......
August 7th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
According to an update article on Rivals, Mitch McGary might be visiting on the weekend of the WMU football game. That's big since he already took an unofficial to UM within the past month or two.
August 7th, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
..."Fingers Crossed" if I could.
August 7th, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
Beilein isn't messing around anymore. Sh*t is about to get real with UM bball.
August 7th, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^
MITCH MCGARY.
August 7th, 2011 at 11:43 AM ^
We will see if Woods is interested in us, as he can't commit without a visit of course... that will give McGary some time to further check us out. I don't have high hopes of SJ committing to us.
August 7th, 2011 at 11:51 AM ^
thanks for the post. i've never heard of this kid, but he looks good. i think he would be a great addtion to the team. you can't teach that type of athleticism.
Looks like a very explosive athlete, but only once did the highlight clip show him going left, and even then, he pulled up for a jumper (which he did make). Develop a reliable left hand (dribbling and finishing around the rim) and he looks to be quite a pick up.
At the same time, though, that kind of explosiveness and leaping ability is not something you can teach and he just seems to be one of those guys that has it.
...about getting Wood.
Would we be recruiting him to play the 3 or 4? I see he's very athletic, would he sort of be in the same role as hardaway jr and robinson jr?
If Trey is doing as well this summer as some have reported, maybe JB is thinking he loses him after 12/13. With a very good point gaurd, a scorer at the two, and solid/experienced players at the 4/5, coupled with some likely impact freshmen, maybe he sees a chance for a big year and wants to do all he can to see we have the horses to take advantage.
I'm sure something like that is in the back of his head, but I doubt he's assuming he's going to leave after his sophomore year or even thinking to much about it before he ever plays a minute of college ball.
Trey's size pretty much precludes this from happening
I wish I were as confident as you in regards to Trey's longevity. I would have thought Darius' shot and lack of quickness would have precluded leaving after 2
But it seems like JB has amped up his efforts to pull in a 2012 recruit. With that as my starting assumption, I was trying to figure out why. I'll be the first to admit, either the starting assumption or the conclusions I'm drawing could be wildly off base