Sykes receives U-M offer but will take other visits

Submitted by Raoul on

On today's Recruiting Roundup, Sam Webb said that Isaiah Sykes had received an offer from Michigan, but he's planning to take visits to Central Florida and Arkansas before making a decision.

Sykes was at the Spring Game, along with Jon Horford, Carlton Brundidge, and Amir Williams.

Earlier in the show, Sam was emphatic that Dane Fife had not "turned down" the assistant coaching job because it had never been offered to him. He was under consideration but took himself out of the running. Sam also confirmed that Bacari Alexander, LaVall Jordan, and Saddi Washington had all interviewed for the job.

Also of note: Cody Larson has committed to Florida, according to a Sioux Falls paper.

MH20

April 21st, 2010 at 8:14 AM ^

For a minute there I thought I read "Bacardi" Alexander and was gonna say that Beilein needs to hire that guy right away!

As for Sykes, I hope he comes back from his visits uncommitted, though it seems unlikely that he'd commit on the spot to one of those schools, but ya never know. As mentioned many times over, he has no jumper, but can slash to the rim and finishes very well. If he can develop a midrange game, or even a semblance of one, I think he could be a very good pickup for Michigan. Either way, I think he's a nice player.

Raoul

April 21st, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^

Did a quick bit of research out of curiosity and found that the name Bacari is Swahili for "noble promise."

Being an optimist about the team's future, to me this seems an apt phrase for Michigan basketball.

Artermis

April 21st, 2010 at 8:31 AM ^

that his transferring (3 different high schools) made the UM admissions people job harder and his going to other schools is in case he can't get in at Michigan.

Mitch Cumstein

April 21st, 2010 at 8:36 AM ^

As much as we always want commitments right away, I can never fault a kid for taking all his visits and weighing all options. Also, I think we can all agree we'd rather use scholarships on players that are a good fit and give 4-5 good years, than someone that decides they don't want to be here and is a waste. (I am not implying either about Sykes).

learmanj

April 21st, 2010 at 8:58 AM ^

I don't know what it is about Sykes, but I am not sold on him. I kind of want to hold on to this schollie. I guess this is just where we trust Beilein and let him do his job.

Smitty D

April 21st, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^

In John's system you need a guard who can penetrate to the rim and kick out to one of the open shooters. Without a guard who can attack the rim you create no spacing for the shooters to be open . (Sykes does this extremely well, and is known for being a excellent passer.)
So there, your wrong magnus you hear me WRONG!!!!!!!!!!

just playin man, but I do disagree with you

BiaBiakabutuka21

April 21st, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^

that is the role of Darius Morris.

That being said, our offense was at its best when Manny was penetrating and then creating for teammates.

Granted, Manny could also hit the three (some of the time).

Hopefully, Sykes will develop a jump shot. I do think he will be an asset to the program if he commits.

Blue boy johnson

April 21st, 2010 at 9:32 AM ^

What Sykes has to offer fits any system, the kid is a player, sees the court very well, excellent passer and can finish. Shooting is his big weakness. Sykes makes the players around him better.

Sykes Game is very similar to Darius Morris and Morris seemed to fit in quite well. Morris is a point guard and Sykes is more of a 3 but once you get into a half court set their games are quite similar.

Magnus

April 21st, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^

I just don't think this offenses uses a slasher well, and that's all Sykes is. If he can't shoot, I feel like he's useless to the team. It's great that he plays defense and can pass the ball, but slashers should be able to shoot at least a little bit or else defenders can sag off them, prevent them from getting to the rim, help on other players, and prevent passes to interior players.

In an offense that's predicated on shooting the ball well from all five positions, it just doesn't make sense to bring in a guard that can't do that.

(FWIW, I'm more of a football guy, so I'm not married to my basketball analyses. This is just my somewhat uneducated basketball opinion.)

MH20

April 21st, 2010 at 10:25 AM ^

I just think Sykes' ability to play good D would be a net benefit, plus as Gordie mentioned, he is a gifted passer and that is something that is hard to teach. Furthermore, with his many transfers in high school, I wonder how much solid coaching he's actually received. Most guys either are good shooters or they're not; however, I think with some good fundamental coaching he could become a decent shooter.

FWIW, I'm not exactly Larry Bird over here with my abilities to analyze, so take my opinions for what they are.

Blue boy johnson

April 21st, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^

First off Sykes is not a guard, also I don't think Belien would offer him if he didn't think he could develop his shot. Secondly Sykes, I think, in the little I have seen of him, has outstanding vision and basketball IQ. When Sykes gets the ball his head is up and he is hitting the open guy, even from the back court, which is pretty rare and leads to easy scoring opportunities.

The kid knows how to play the game. Teams will sag off him and give him the outside shot, but then you post him up and get him the ball near the paint and the kid will be a force, especially if our guards are hitting their shots from the outside, preventing double teams. Sykes is not going to be hanging out around the 3 point line. he is either going to post or try to get the ball in the 10 to 15 foot range, face up and attack the basket.

Stu, Novak, Vogrich, Hardaway, and LLP are all shooters first, drivers second, Sykes brings a different component to the team and would have an excellent chance of contributing early in the frontcourt. Sykes drive and dish ability is something this team needs desperately. I'm hopeful that Smotrycz can bring similar abilities.

MGlobules

April 21st, 2010 at 11:07 AM ^

to what you're saying here, Magnus. Just to add two things: slashing is really about seeing the holes and getting to them when they're open. This is great in any offense, and fits extremely well in Beilein's--in fact, it makes it more powerful. Sykes really knows the game--as several posters note--and can play any O with acumen. To have such a great dribbler at the 3 is SUPER for Beilein's O, where ideally everyone is a great ball handler (plus, he's long).

The lack of outside shot is the obvious critical factor. But I have been making myself a pain for weeks at UMHoops demanding to know if anyone has proof he cannot shoot it. All the visual evidence is simply that he hasn't had to. If Beilein is offering him, my hunch is either that he can shoot it or can be coached to.

Plus, I guarantee the fans will be excited by him.

SanDiegoWolverine

April 21st, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^

Magnus, all the strengths and weaknesses you just mentioned about Sykes and the scouting reports I've read sound like Dwyane Wade when he was in Marquette. Wade only had offers from Marquette, Illinois State and DePaul and couldn't shoot a lick coming out of high school. I don't think there's a D1 coach worth his salt in the country that couldn't have figured out how to maximize Wade's skill set. Now it's doubtful that Sykes will develop like Wade but it's useful to use him as an example what a slasher/defender can do for you team.

Also, it's a myth if you are a bad shooter defenders can just slack off you and force you to jack up shots. If you slack off someone by 8 or 10 feet you are more likely to get burnt because the ball handler can just pick up spend and blow by you. If you don't believe me just watch Rajon Rondo play sometime.

If you want to make the argument that Sykes doesn't have the bbiq (and I don't think anyone is making that argument) or takes bad shots to play in this offense that's one thing; as long as Sykes realizes what his weaknesses are (e.g. doesn't jack up lots of threes if he is bad shooter, I think he would be a great addition. I welcome a player to our own team that can get his create his own offense and get to the line. If he is a lock down defender that is a bonus.

Magnus

April 21st, 2010 at 2:38 PM ^

I know you can't just leave him alone, but you could play off him a bit to prevent him from getting past you with his first step.

If he could come in and play some point guard to spell Morris, I'd be fine with it. But I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I don't really want to see Morris and Sykes on the floor at the same time (if Sykes commits). And if Sykes is going to play the 3, then we're going to be severely undersized.

SanDiegoWolverine

April 21st, 2010 at 4:59 PM ^

I think you always want to have 3 guys on the floor that can hit long J's or 3's for good percentage on any team. So if our big guys can knock down some 16+ footers then it won't be a problem. Otherwise Sykes or Morris will have to learn to shoot (or just not play together).

Bottom line: Most recruits don't get major minutes as a freshman so the fact that they can't hit the broad side a barn now doesn't mean they won't be much improved in 2 or 3 years. If Sykes is getting major minutes this fall there is probably a damn good reason he is out there and we'll gladly take him.

UMICH1606

April 21st, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^

He is not the best shooter but he can take the ball to the rim, which this team desperately needs at the moment. I am indifferent about offering him or saving it though. Just because we are in a decent position with so and so next year doesn't mean that we will land them either.

learmanj

April 21st, 2010 at 10:08 AM ^

To me, we are setting ourselves up to be a team with 3 guards that can't shoot (Morris, Buntridge (sp?), and Sykes). I know we have Hardaway and Vogrich, if he pans out. I just don't see Sykes playing very much so why offer him a scholarship when we could save it for next year and get a Big Man and Wing?

Raoul

April 21st, 2010 at 10:12 AM ^

I'm in the same sort of indifferent camp about Sykes, but it does seem he might be able to help fill the void left by Harris's departure, and in the end I trust Beilein's judgment.

It also seems to me that perhaps the program is beginning to turn the corner on recruiting when so many fans are willing to pass up what appears to be a pretty good prospect in the hopes--or even expectation--of landing a better one in 2011.

Mercury Haze

April 21st, 2010 at 10:37 AM ^

If for no other reason, he's important to land because doing so will show that Beilein (1) pays attention to, and can recruit in, Detroit, (2) will go after athletic/slashing scorers, and (3) is not utterly beholden to farmboy/hobbit spot-up shooters. The state is fertile territory for basketball talent and Beilein absolutely needs to tap into that. Nice as it is to land top 100 guys in Darius Morris, Smotrycz and Hardaway, none are local and the recipe for long term success requires getting local kids. Zeigler and McCallum are excusable because of the unique circumstances with their dads, and getting commits from Brundidge and Horford is a nice step in the right direction, but if we want to challenge the Spartan hegemony (yeah, I used hegemony in a basketball post) we need to get guys from the D (and Flint and Saginaw). Hopefully, we land Sykes and he is the first of many to come.

Raoul

April 21st, 2010 at 12:06 PM ^

And the importance of recruiting Detroit is why I'd like to see Bacari Alexander hired as the new assistant.

As far as Flint goes, Beilein is making an effort as shown by his offering Javontae Hawkins--and offering him early. (Landing him, I know, is what you're getting at.)

Edit: Alexander, by the way, is responsible for recruiting the eastern side of the state for WMU, and he played a key role in them landing Juwan Howard Jr. (from Detroit Pershing).

champswest

April 21st, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^

If he signs with us we add an athletic slasher and defender to fill the Manny void (slasher) and if he doesn't sign, we bank the scholarship for next year giving us two more to use. Plumlee and Williams would be nice. (Hey, I can dream can't I?)