6-6 2016 wing Harold Baruti taking OV to Michigan

Submitted by Raoul on

Per his high school team, 6-6 wing Harold Baruti, an unsigned senior out of Mountain Mission HS (Grundy, VA), is headed to Michigan today for an official visit. Rivals has him as a three star with offers from SMU and UNC-Wilmington. Highlight reel below.

EDIT: Also picked up offers from Tennessee Tech and Utah State in late April. And Texas Tech and Utah are also now in the mix.

The Squid

May 4th, 2016 at 12:55 PM ^

He's from Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the big Congo), which helps explain his apparent lack of experience. I'm pretty sure that the 2 years is only 2 years in the USA, but that he played back home, too. Not exactly sure what basketball in Lubumbashi is like, of course.

ST3

May 4th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^

two other thoughts:

I saw him follow his shot, get a rebound and a put-back, which is exactly one more time than our entire roster last season. (That's one of my pet peeves with Beilein's coaching. They sacrifce the offensive glass to prevent the fast break. Yes, somebody has to be back, but the shooter has the best vantage point to see where the missed shot is going and has an advantage going after the offensive rebound. Always follow your shot.)

He played in a lot of near empty gyms. Don't people go to high school basketball games anymore?

somewittyname

May 4th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^

We shouldn't take anyone that wouldn't be expected to contribute next year, that is, we shouldn't use a four year scholarship out of desperation on a player that won't contribute next year when that scholarship could be saved for '17.

I'm not saying that's the case with Baruti, especially since Larry Brown wants him, but just because we have open spots doesn't mean we should fill them unless they go to grad transfers, who would have no impact down the road.

Padog

May 4th, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^

Good point, doesn't make sense to just fill spots because we have them as we could get a nice 17 class. But at the same time going into the season with two open spots would be idiotic. We should pick up another 16 recruit and then get a grad transfer even if he isn't stellar.




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BuckNekked

May 4th, 2016 at 1:08 PM ^

If Beilein takes another guy that cant contribute at all this season and needs two years to develop at this point in the cycle out of desperation hes putting the nails in his own coffin in my opinion*.

 

 

 

 

* My opinion means exactly jack squat. Ask my wife or kids what they think of my opinion.

ypsituckyboy

May 4th, 2016 at 11:28 AM ^

Watched that 10 min reel. Clearly a plus athlete, energy guy who may be able to be molded into our defensive stopper. But his ball skills are super raw and his shot lacks touch. It's hard to teach touch in basketball. On the bright side, Indiana has taken fliers on a couple kids like this over the years and a few have worked out.

I just wish Beilein would continue to recruit even when he's full so that you're not grabbing a guy at the last minute with offers from low D1s. Just tell them you're full now, but that cbball is unpredictable with transfers and in the event a scholly comes open you'd offer it. 

Also, still frustrated by the Landford miss. I think he's gonna be a star.

Padog

May 4th, 2016 at 11:30 AM ^

Agree that his ball skills are super raw. However, we have quite a few ball handlers so I don't think that will be an issue. Also agree about his shot lacking touch, although Beilein is as good as any with coaching the shot. Are you referring to O.G. for Indiana? Because of this guy is anywhere near as good I will be happy.




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Mr Miggle

May 4th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^

any difference? When you lose players this late, those recruits are going to be signed somewhere else. He already was oversigned by one. It's got to be pretty hard to convince guys with good offers to wait around and risk losing guaranteed spots elsewhere.

Lanknows

May 4th, 2016 at 12:00 PM ^

If there's one thing Beilein can do it's develop those.

I like the raw ingredients here.  Lacks elite size but otherwise seems to have a good skillset paired with athleticism (at least from what you can tell in the video).

You don't need much to play on the wing as a freshman for Beilein - just hit corner 3s and .... yeah that's about it.

The Victors

May 4th, 2016 at 12:38 PM ^

Did Beilein anticipate all of these transfers?  Doubtful--especially Dawkins.

While I do agree we shouldn't have missed on Langford, I like the Baruti film.  I like it because he's NOT like every other recruit Beilein has gone after, particularly on the wings.  Baruti is more of a slasher/attacker and drives in strong, which is something this team is sorely lacking.  I like him as a fit because he's not like Irvin, Dawkins, Robinson, Chatman, etc.  He fills a different need.  We need a wing that may be a little more raw on the ball skills, but built a little thicker, more athletic, and really gets after it on both ends.

You can teach and improve ball skills.

Erik_in_Dayton

May 4th, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^

I'm not as against banking scholarships as some people, but they really do need another wing for next year.  That said, every last-minute two or three star guy you get takes up the space of a potential four star recruit.  It might be better in the long run to have a big 2017 class that offers the chance to add a handful of top 150ish players.

Lanknows

May 4th, 2016 at 12:48 PM ^

Beilein's track record over the last 10 years is stellar. (compare it to Izzo if you like).  I doubt Manual would be so short-sighted.

IF Beilein's team is worse than last year we can start talking about him on the hot seat. It is an important season, especially given he'll have 5 guys who are all old and experienced in the starting lineup.

For now, two attrition-ravaged teams (one of which still made and won in the tournament) don't put you on the hot seat after all the succes he has had and how he streered the program back to relevancy.

93Grad

May 4th, 2016 at 3:04 PM ^

In the 9 years that JB had been at Michigan:

Izzo has 3 Final Fours, 3 Regular season Conf Champs, 3 conf tourney champs, 7 Sweet 16's and a conference record of  113-49.

JB has 1 final four, 2 regular season Conf Champs, 0 conf tourney champs, 2 sweet 16's and a conference record of 88-74.

The numbers are almost as bad compared to Matta and Bo Ryan.  

Man there are some delusional people in our fanbase.

Lanknows

May 4th, 2016 at 3:57 PM ^

Over the last 6 seasons (since 2010) Beilein win % is 67% vs Izzos 73%. 1 final 4 and 1 final 8 for both of them. The difference basically boils down to one Caris Levert injury.

I think you have to let Beilein have that first year, if not the first 3 as he built the program back up.  Izzo was actually part of the program at MSU and still took him the first 3 years as HC just to make the tournament.

 

pescadero

May 4th, 2016 at 4:20 PM ^

Over the last 6 seasons (since 2010) Beilein win % is 67% vs Izzos 73%.

 

Ummm... that is a pretty significant difference.

 

Since 2010:

Bo Ryan: 147-48 (75.4%)

Thad Matta: 164-54 (75.2%)

Tom Izzo: 160-59 (73.1%)

John Beilein: 143-70 (67.1%)

 

pescadero

May 4th, 2016 at 4:36 PM ^

A normal season is ~35 games.

 

Ryan goes 26-9

Matta goes 26-9

Izzo goes 26-9

Beilein goes 23-12

 

"and you are talking about a class of excellent coaches"

Yes... one that our coach is at the bottom of in everything but salary.

 

He has the second highest salary of any of those coaches.

Lanknows

May 4th, 2016 at 5:13 PM ^

Beilein is averaging 25-11 in the last 5 years*

21-14

24-10

31-8

28-9

23-13

 

25 wins per year vs 26.  Beilein's at home amongst excellent company.

 

*This drops the 500 14-15 season when Levert and Walton and Spike all got hurt, Stauskas turned pro, and McGary and Horford left unexpectedly.  Would everyone look better if you dropped their low season?  of course, but I think we can agree that Beilein had no control over most of the exceptional number of bad things that happened that lead to that season.

 

pescadero

May 4th, 2016 at 5:22 PM ^

"25 wins per year vs 26.  Beilein's at home amongst excellent company."



Nope... because the 25 wins is on a >35 game schedule, and the averages of the others are based on a 35 game schedule.

 

Actual average records over the last 6 years:

Ryan (ignoring 2015-16): 28 - 8.6

Matta: 27.3 - 9

Izzo: 26.7 - 9.9

Beilein: 23.8 - 11.7

BigBlue02

May 4th, 2016 at 3:58 PM ^

I'm not going to say Beilein is as good as Izzo, because that is ridiculous, but you're looking at 9 years as a start for Beilein compared to Izzo 10 years into his coaching career at MSU. Also, B10 tournament championships mean nothing, so I'm not sure why that is even included. B10 championships means more than any one-and-done tournament, NCAA tournament included

Lanknows

May 4th, 2016 at 4:10 PM ^

2 years ago it looked like Beilein was kicking Izzos butt, on the floor and in talent identification.  Then Izzo started following what Beilein was doing on the recruiting trail (e.g., Bess, Aherns, McQuaid all identified by UM first) and Michigan had run of bad luck (NBA attrition, injuries, transfers), and Izzo surged back.

Not arguing Izzo's resume overall - he's done an amazing job - but Beilein had him on his heels a few years after he arrived on campus already and is a lot closer to putting UM ahead of MSU again than most people realize.

AZBlue

May 4th, 2016 at 12:49 PM ^

Not sure on the falling all over regarding those guys. Aubrey would have deserved it IF he could play defense. Robinson was never going to be Stauskas imo except as a 3-point assassin -- which he still can be if M can put enough offensive threats on the court to get him good looks. Not sure Doyle was touted as anything other than a potential "solid" center - at least until he showed flashes as a Frosh.

If this young man can play solid defense and provide some drive and dunk threat he can be at least a solid role-player and depth guy. If the staff can improve his shot the ceiling is higher obviously.