BBall Recruiting - New 2020 Target (and Visitor)/EM 5* Guard Nimari Burnett
Add Nimari Burnett to the 2020 board. This kid checks all the boxes in terms of what we want on and off the court. Would be a HUGE addition to the 2020 class. The fact that his family is flipping the bill for an unofficial should certainly tell you about his interest level in Michigan. Fully expect him to be offered on the visit.
February 10th, 2019 at 10:18 AM ^
Sounds legit!
February 10th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
Dare I say...too legit to quit?
February 10th, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
Uh-oh, uh-oh, here comes the Hammer.
February 10th, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
Please, Hammer...don't hurt 'em.
February 10th, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^
But does he like the girls with the pumps in the bumps, whatever that means?
February 10th, 2019 at 10:46 AM ^
Flipping the bill eh? I think you meant to say footing.
February 10th, 2019 at 11:26 AM ^
No, there was some guy named Bill, they didn't like him, so they flipped him off.
February 10th, 2019 at 12:57 PM ^
I’d flip off some guy who called himself “The Bill” too.
February 10th, 2019 at 1:22 PM ^
Kinda like that commercial with "The Rick".
As far as footing the bill to visit Michigan? It's about $50 in gas from Chicago to AA. Not like it is a stretch.
February 10th, 2019 at 1:41 PM ^
Chicago is his hometown, but he currently resides in Northern California and attends Prolific Prep. That's a rather expensive and lengthy trip, and I doubt he'd take an unofficial unless there was serious interest.
February 10th, 2019 at 4:17 PM ^
Oh, I did not realize. My bad.
February 10th, 2019 at 10:47 AM ^
Looks like a very legit player and could continue as the next member of Short Shorts Squad. I'm already doubtful on our chances with 5*s due to Beilein's philosophy on freshmen earning their minutes in practice and having to get his trust, and with $chools like Illinois, Louisville, Arizona, Arizona State, USC, LSU, DePaul, Ohio State, Indiana, Marquette and Oregon on the prowl for him, I'm also pessimistic
February 10th, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
I can understand your pessimism, but the kid is from Chicago, is in good academic standing (Stanford) and is extremely well-spoken.
We often discuss certain prospects not being recruitable for various reasons, but I definitely think this is one where I'd like the staff to show more 'love'/begging. You have a 5star kid, but perhaps not quite a one and done type, taking an unofficial visit...……..think we should certainly be one of the schools in contact most frequently. He checks ALL the boxes.
February 10th, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
He also says early minutes are of utmost importance. He's not going to Michigan. He'll go somewhere they don't have a guard who's the designated starter. Or hell go somewhere they'll lie to get him. Probably OSU.
February 10th, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
Because Michigan has so much guard depth right now. Get out of here with this take.
February 10th, 2019 at 11:52 AM ^
Why the hostility? Only generates more of the same. You've got zero points, so maybe it's kind of an issue?
February 10th, 2019 at 12:04 PM ^
Hahahaha are you new here? You have never met maizen? He is one giant ball of negativity.
February 10th, 2019 at 1:33 PM ^
Okay, this is Maizen in a new guise. No, did not know. A glance would have told you I have been coming here since 2008. . . when, I have to say, the place was a lot more pleasant and the conversations more stimulating. Was out of the country for six months and when I came back it seemed like things had taken another sharp downturn. The game-day threads have always sucked, though. . .
February 10th, 2019 at 4:51 PM ^
I thought he was referring to Hei2man as maizen, not you
February 10th, 2019 at 8:56 PM ^
You think I give a flying fuck about mgopoints?
February 10th, 2019 at 12:27 PM ^
F off maizen
February 10th, 2019 at 11:24 AM ^
So who are Michigan's designated starters for 2020?
February 10th, 2019 at 11:29 AM ^
Ignas is a freshman. Gets a lot of minutes.
February 10th, 2019 at 12:09 PM ^
This isn't DJ Carton looking at a year of sitting behind X.
Others note Michigan can point to Iggy but Beilein can perhaps more importantly point to Trey Burke's 36 minutes/game as a freshman. Walton played 26 minutes/game as a freshman as well.
February 10th, 2019 at 2:17 PM ^
Sounds like the perfect Beilein player. Let's get him. He'll be here for the home game against MSU so the atmosphere should be electric.
February 10th, 2019 at 11:14 AM ^
I don't think Beilein's philosophy about earning playing time is the reason he rarely gets 5* recruits.
I tend to be pessimistic about landing recruits when Michigan is one of many schools competing for them too. However else you want to look at it, the odds aren't favorable.
February 10th, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^
Iggy earned them. Nimari can too
February 10th, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
While I agree, very few freshmen do earn significant minutes. Iggy is an exception to the rule
February 10th, 2019 at 2:31 PM ^
Are you only looking at the last three years?
Iggy, Burke, Hardaway, Walton, Irvin, Stauskas, Robinson, Morgan and McGary all played significant minutes as freshmen. Aubrey Dawkins and Ricky Doyle, too!
February 10th, 2019 at 3:04 PM ^
Fair enough. I guess it's just been recently where he has been more hesitant to give freshmen minutes.
February 10th, 2019 at 5:49 PM ^
I don't think he's hesitant to play freshmen, but he does insist that whoever gets on the floor proves that they know enough to do so. If you don't know how the offense works, at least for your own position, you don't get to play. But if you figure it out, you get minutes like everyone else...
February 10th, 2019 at 6:49 PM ^
How soon we forget. When Simpson was struggling last season he started Brooks in his place. He started Livers over Robinson most of the season. Duncan stepped up his play significantly to earn back more minutes.
Beilein has been consistent about playing to win. He doesn't play freshmen just to get them experience or because he made promises to them in their recruitment. (Because he doesn't promise playing time.) He plays them when he thinks they will help the team win more games.
February 10th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
Illinois and DePaul scale you on the recruiting trail?...
February 10th, 2019 at 12:34 PM ^
Illinois under Underwood just landed a 5* and DePaul is constantly in it for top players somehow. They scare me because I have a feeling they like their bagmen
February 10th, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
Positive news. Watched his highlight tape and the way he finished at the basket reminded me of Charles Matthews
February 10th, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^
So, about 50%?
February 10th, 2019 at 12:18 PM ^
Matthews is 75.3% at the rim per Torvik.
February 10th, 2019 at 12:38 PM ^
What about "per random internet poster who doesn't keep track of these things and didn't look at the data?" I bet Matthews is shooting about 50% at the rim per that guy.
February 10th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
I'm glad Bert tracks those things because I was way off
February 10th, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
It appears he has all the tools and academics. Would be a great fit for Coach B's program.
February 10th, 2019 at 11:55 AM ^
Wow. Yeah. He's the real deal. Thanks for posting.
February 10th, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
Love this kid. IMHO, we could use another player or two who can play above the rim!
February 10th, 2019 at 12:29 PM ^
Embed from YouTube -
February 10th, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
Sounds like he has interest in us - as well as the rest of the schools in the Top 20, and few more beyond (incl Ohio State and Illinois).
Would be a nice get. Hopefully his unofficial visit leads to a narrower list with us on it...
February 10th, 2019 at 12:43 PM ^
Meh. Does not appear to have a sky hook. Do not want.
February 10th, 2019 at 12:43 PM ^
I'll try to get ahead of the game here, as people typically ask me for comps. Burnett has some Eric Gordon (Indiana) qualities to his game...…….I don't think he's quite as polished in terms of his handle, but definitely more explosive than Gordon at the same stage. Neither player has great first step acceleration, but the perimeter shotmaking ability off the bounce or the catch in a similar frame is comp worthy. I think Burnett is a day 1 contributor that is likely a 2, but can handle some on-ball duties at times. To put this in quantitative context, Nimari put up nearly 15ppg, 4rebs, 2assts on the EYBL circuit in 2018...…...while playing TWO years up. That's impressive.
February 10th, 2019 at 2:52 PM ^
I see the Eric Gordon comparison. I think Brad Beal is a good comparison too (based on the youtube highlight videos I've seen of Nimari). (I had the pleasure of seeing Beal up close in HS and in AAU - St. Louis Eagles.)
I want to see Burnett improve (1) his handle and (2) his ability to create fo teammates.
Re: Handle
A good defender at the college level will get lower than Burnett and use leverage to knock the ball away. Besides, having a good handle will allow Burnett to get to his spots more frequently and create separation especially 1-on-1 without the aid of a screen.
February 10th, 2019 at 4:47 PM ^
Just wait a minute...we lived in Indy when Eric was in high school...and you're saying he is more explosive than Eric!!!???!!! And he can light it up from deep like Eric???
February 10th, 2019 at 5:21 PM ^
Not saying he’s as potent from distance like Eric, but there’s no question he’s a more explosive athlete at the same age.
February 10th, 2019 at 2:07 PM ^
"Prolific Prep" sounds like a shady for-profit diploma mill in "Remember the Titans 2: Hoops"