5* Canadian PG Jamal Murray may visit Michigan soon

Submitted by ypsituckyboy on

Per Paul Biancardi at ESPN, the 5* PG may visit Michigan soon. He has not stated definitively whether he'll be in the 2015 or 2016 class, but many think he's leaning toward 2015. If he stays in the 2016 class, he'd be eligible to forego college and enter immediately due to his age and status as a foreign player.

Kentucky and Oregon appear to be the main contenders for his services, but Michigan has been in contact with him for a long time. Many scouts feel he his a top-10 player nationally and a future NBA lottery pick.

morepete

June 11th, 2015 at 3:28 PM ^

This would be fantastic. I have to say, if I were a point guard, just watching Trey Burke and Darius Morris film would get me to play for Beilein.




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justingoblue

June 11th, 2015 at 4:17 PM ^

Canada (only an idiot wouldn't acknowledge its historic hegemony on NHL players, that's definitely not my point) isn't currently that outsized in its NHL contributions, especially compared to the old days.

50.3% of NHL'ers are Canadian, while about 37% of all organized hockey players are Canadian. The Europeans more or less hold serve relative to player population and it's the US that's not getting players into the league.

justingoblue

June 11th, 2015 at 4:39 PM ^

No, I'm saying that the various Europen countries tend to put about the same percentage of players into the NHL as they have overall players, while the US does less and Canada does more (but less than they have historically).

It doesn't have anything to do with overall population, it's the delta between participants and NHL players.

justingoblue

June 11th, 2015 at 4:46 PM ^

Would saying "While Canada does still significantly punch above its weight class getting players into the NHL, it does less than it has in the past" be a more understandable statement?

Taking Europe and the US out of it for simplicity: Canada has 37% of the world's player population and 50.3% of the NHL player population, which is a narrower gap than it used to be.

Webber's Pimp

June 11th, 2015 at 5:26 PM ^

From what I've read JM is a one and done type of PG. At least that is what he is billing himself as. Whether or not the projection is acurate is another matter entirely since no one mentioned him as an NBA caliber PG last year around this time. Winston on the other hand is supposed to be a 4 year player (think Derek Walton). Both are great options but I'd rather have 4 years of Winston than 1 or 2 years of Murray. Winston is also an in-state kid so that clinches it for me.

Erik_in_Dayton

June 11th, 2015 at 3:38 PM ^

...be particularly great to get him as a 2015 recruit so Michigan could use it's currently unused scholarship on him.  It looks very plausible that he'd be gone by 2016, leaving Michigan in no more of a crunch in 2016 than they already are. 

Lanknows

June 11th, 2015 at 5:04 PM ^

But in that case you'd have to wonder about the appeal for him to come to a loaded and deep team.  There is certainly the precedent of backups on Kentucky getting drafted and Murray would benefit from practicing against NBA-caliber players, but the fit still seems awkward for 2015. 

That said, Kentucky wouldn't be much better for him and you can envision a scenario where LeVert plays a lot of his minutes at the 3.  Still - there's only one ball and we already have Derrick, Spike, and Caris.

Farnn

June 11th, 2015 at 3:50 PM ^

I know more good players is always better, and a top 10 player would be great, but what does he add to the 2015-2016 team?  With Walton at PG, Levert at SG and Spike backing them up in what is a pretty complex offense, how much would Murray add?  Just seems like a great player at the wrong position for this team. 

Lanknows

June 11th, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^

Michigan is looking pretty deep, but some of that is our conjecture/expectation of significant growth from people who were just OK basketball players on a not very good basketball team last year. Murray projects as anywhere from the 2nd to 5th best player on the team - good enough to bump LeVert back to the 3 and Dawkins to the bench or kick whoever our 6th man is to the end of the bench.

Walton and LeVert are very good players and Irvin is probably right there with them next year giving us a strong Big 3.  Spike is a very good offensive player and Dawkins too, but they have been defensive liabilities. Beyond that nobody is a sure thing to even get consistent minutes.

m_go_T

June 11th, 2015 at 4:52 PM ^

what you think it means.  Winston is still in the bush, as is Murray.  If Winston was listed as a 2016 commit and we were actively pursing Murray then I think the saying would come into play.  

Most likely this kid is a one-and-done anyway, so it is unliekly that he would impact Winston's recruitment.  

Ty Butterfield

June 11th, 2015 at 4:40 PM ^

Before I would have said no chance, but Beilein did land Battle so you never know.