Who is Derrick Walton Jr.?

I am Ron Burgandy?

Pretty interesting to compare him to Monte Morris who apparently Beilein offered scholarships to both (and I believe a 3rd PG I cant recall off top of my head) and whomever said yes got the scholarship. 

Now we have to account for systems and need - Walton is needed to be more of a scorer this year as the 2nd/3rd option - Morris is on a much deeper team with 4 guys in front of him averaging 12.5 pts or more(!) but from first glance Morris is much more of a distributor while Walton is more of a scoring type PG.  Walton is a better shooter but considering Beilein is a master at creating good shooters I'd think Morris would shoot better for UM than he does for ISU.  I would  like to see Walton increase his assists per game to something closer to 5 per game.  Both rebound very well for undersized PGs.

• Walton Jr  6'0 185 - 33 MPG, 13.8 PPG, 46% FG, 47% 3 PT FG, 82% FT, 5.4 Reb, 3.0 Assists
• Morris  6'2 170 - 36 MPG, 10.0 PPG, 40% FG, 42% 3 PT FG, 73% FT, 4.5 Reb, 6.5 Assists

 

Both are excellent 2nd year PGs and nice local products.

Here are Yogi Ferrell's 2nd year stats for comparison (his size is more like Walton Jr)

• 34 MPG, 17.3 PPG, 41% FG, 40% 3 PT FG, 82% FT, 3.0 Reb, 3.9 Assists

Yogi's stats are also why I think people just need to cool it on "he is so going pro" with a big year.  If Walton was 6'4 I'd be worried but the market for 1st round draft choices is not overflowing for 6'0 guards unless you are national player of the year.  Look at UConn's Napier who is a sick player and didnt leave early.  What Burke did was pretty rare for a guard that size.

Ricky Green was an absolute terror on the court. He was lightning fast. We used to joke that he could run faster with the ball in his hands than without. When he transferred in from Vincennes JC he transformed the team and led them to the championship game. Sound familiar? He may not have been the player of the year like Trey, BUT he was the runner-up for player of the year and 1st team All-American his senior year. Pretty good I'd say!

Bentley on Ricky

 

Demetrius Calep? Maybe Rob Pelinka?

I like Walton, but he has some work to do for sure.

Trey took over games at times, Walton needs to start doing that. Trey could spot up for 3 or just as easily get to the line for 2.

The only thing missing on this team right now is "who is going to be the man."

One thing I really miss about the "old days" is that we don't get to see great fourth-year point guards anymore.  I wish players could take endorsements and money from boosters.  It may keep a few of them in school an extra year or so if they could get a huge contract from Nike, Adidas, etc.  

Think of what would have happened if Trey Burke had been given the choice of making more money as a senior with a large shoe contract or going to the NBA where he won't have as much publicity for awhile.  When it comes to face time on national TV, a great college player is a better investment than a fledgling NBA player.

Years old.we usually always have and had good guards.

I would take grant over walton. Better all around game and lockdown defender too.

some Darren Collison, some Ty Lawson

 

Scary in transition, money as a spot up shooter, rebounds, defends and can finish at the rim BUT his PnR playmaking isn't where it needs to be.

Walton lives up to high high recruiting rating.  But he's more of a distributor vs. Burke who was more of a scorer.   But otherwise, both are very similar in size and control of the game.  I never have doubts when either have the ball in their hands.

Fan since 84 here, my Top 5 PGs:

1. Trey Burke - Best player at Michigan since Chris Webber

2. Gary Grant - The best numbers among Michigan PGs

3. Rumeal Robinson - Not a pure PG, but who can forget those free throws

4. Derrick Walton Jr - Will be an All-American if he continues his trajectory

5. Daniel Horton - Poster child of how talent was squandered during the Tommy Amaker error

I have never seen Rickey Green or Eric Turner play in person, so they are not counted.

Burke's mastery of the game was more complete, and profound. He made defensive plays that swung games. Walton is a joy to watch, but Burke had that same natural confidence, even as a Freshman, and for that matter so did Rose (although he was prone to pout).

One person that's never mentioned is Darius Morris. He's not in the elite class of Michigan pgs, but I think Burke made us forget how good he was. Couldn't shoot, but was fantastic at getting into the lane and creating something.

Poor man's Burke

You're not that old.

~ Herm

This thread is so corny I had to throw this out.... DWJr was an all-state guard who had "dog in his game". Not the flashiest HS player, he has some great raw skills, hard work ethic and a big heart. Sort of like the players Mark D'antonio likes. Under John Beilein and staff he can get better every year and be a very solid college player. Let's wait fr the Big10 season before we annoint him anything. Right now he is far behind BUrke, let alone Gary Grant, or Rickey Green : )

But I want to know who is this Spike guy?

is just, well, dumb.

Isiah was a lottery pick (before the lottery, #2 overall) after his Sophomore season.  A consensus first team all-american and was named MOP of the 1981 Final Four. 

 

I'm sorry, Walton is good, but he is nowhere near the college player Isiah Thomas was.

Folks on this board by whom they believe is the best PG....had the pleasure of watching many of the greats, Burke was great but Green and Grant set the standard.

He's not a weird guy

I believe Wilmore's senior year was 1972-73. Prior to that, he was a small forward and a dominant Big Ten (when there actually were 10 schools in the league...) player. Yet, for his senior season, Coach Johnny Orr moved him to guard, so as to improve his NBA draft status, as he was felt to be too small for the forward position in the NBA. His senior year wasn't so great, as I recall, and as a guard he was disappointing. His ball handling abilities were not great. 

Walton is a much better guard. I hope he sticks around so I can see his continued improvement.

 

I'm Ron Burgundy?

Eric Turner was good in an era when Frieder was rebuilding. Pretty good all-around game. By the time the team reached the top 10, he was slightly overshadowed by Gary Grant as a freshman.

Uh, did we already forget Trey Burke?