SBNation Top 100 (LeVert #9)
SBNation put out their Top 100 players in the NCAA and Caris LeVert is ranked #9 in the country (right behind Kaminsky. Zak Irvin is listed on the "50 Who Just Missed" List. The entire list is here.
Caris LeVert is finally ready to make his Elmo-esque step into the spotlight after serving as an accent piece for a slew of NBA-bound Wolverines over the past two seasons. The Columbus native smoothly made the transition from little-used reserve to 35-minute-a-night starter last season, which should ease some of the fears in Ann Arbor over whether or not LeVert is ready to handle the role of feature player. Part of that concern is centered around the fact that LeVert is naturally shy (you thought I was going to make an introvert joke there, but swinging isn't as fun when the ball's on a tee), which is a far cry from recent stars like Trey Burke and Nik Stauskas.
On the court, however, LeVert is an animal. His 6'7, 200-pound frame makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing shooting guards, and he's not one to back down from exploiting the advantage on either end of the court. After averaging just over 2.0 ppg as a freshman, LeVert took his minutes boost last season and turned himself into a second-team All-Big 10 performer in 2013-14. He shot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc, and scored 20 or more points on eight different occasions.
Pickerington isn't Columbus but whatever.
October 28th, 2014 at 11:32 AM ^
Wow. LeVert sure is getting the Frank Clark-type Hype this year. He will be good, but the ninth best player in the NCAA might be a little high. Top 25 probably.
October 28th, 2014 at 11:38 AM ^
Part of the hype is Beilein getting the benefit of the doubt. I mean going into last year did anybody really think Nik Stauskas would be drafted higher than Trey Burke? I loved Stauskas as a freshman but #8 overall is insane improvement -- all hail Coach B!
October 28th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
LeVert actually has production to back up the hype. Frank Clark doesn't, although he is a solid DE who has a future as a rotational backup DE in the NFL.
October 28th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
#9 doesn't seem high to me at all. Caris LeVert is going to have the opportunity to be "the man" this year. I have confidence that he will succeed. He will benefit from Derrick Walton's improvement and the occasional presence of not one, but two PG's on the floor.
When that is added to his own expected improvement, I think we are going to be looking at another guy who ends up in the lottery thanks to his own talent and John Beilein helping him develop that talent.
October 28th, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^
Mock drafts around the web all have have Caris in the lottery, anywhere from #6 (NBAdraft.net) to #13 (ESPN), so I would say #9 actually sounds about right.
October 28th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
LeVert has production to back his rankings up. Clark does not.
LeVert plays for a coach that it known for developing talent and getting the absolute most out of his players. Clark plays for a coach that takes talent and squanders it.
No offense to Clark, but there's a big difference between these two.
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October 28th, 2014 at 11:33 AM ^
this is pretty incredible.
October 28th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^
#9 seems high, but look at all the other guys Beilein has developed since he's been here. It's a reasonably safe bet that LeVert will break out as well. How nice it is to have coaches that utilize our talent.
October 28th, 2014 at 11:44 AM ^
Pickerington is basically Columbus - when you're writing a national article, it's not that big of a deal. People know where Columbus is. Joe Schmoe in Phoenix likely has no idea what the hell a Pickerington is. Also, per Wikipedia (I know, not a scientific resource), LeVert was born in Columbus and then moved to Pickerington.
October 28th, 2014 at 11:44 AM ^
What an amazing level of growth in that young man. One more feather in Beilein's cap.
October 28th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
beilein continues to turn middling afterthoughts into first round players. Nothing like being the first to recruit a player who will become a first round pick in three years
October 28th, 2014 at 3:11 PM ^
Now if only we could get a football coach who can develop players
October 28th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
when he finished his senior year in HS. To go from there to 6'7" and 200 lbs is amazing. We all can see why some are high on LeVert as a NBA draft prospect. Thing is he is only 20 years old which is crazy. That would make him a true sophomore but has junior eligibiity so he still has potential to get better.
October 29th, 2014 at 2:26 AM ^
Going to be honest. Putting on 35 pounds when you grow 2-3 inches and had no real weight training beforehand isn't all that hard. Having the genetics to be athletic and 6'7" is luck, and despite our defensive backs inability to put weight on it really isn't impossible to do so.
This is coming from someone who had that exact same growth trajectory, minus all the drive, dedication, and natural basketball talent that Lavert has.
Not meant to rag on you or anything, but I imagine the hardest thing the training staff had to do to get Levert to put on weight was convince him how much food an active 6'7" inch guy really needs everyday. Think 4000-5000 cals
October 28th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
That picture of Kaminsky is a gem
October 28th, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^
It's perfect. And not an accident, I'm sure.
October 28th, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
Caris is big, strong and has devolped over the summer and will be the leader of this Michigan basketball team, Good choice by SB.
October 28th, 2014 at 12:27 PM ^
Too low to be honest
October 28th, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
I hope Caris is successful this year but I think some are applying unrealistic expectations. I guess I am more of a, "wait, see and then evaluate" type of guy.
October 28th, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^
then michigan is going to do some major damage. we'll still be okay even if he isn't quite that good.