MBB Recruiting: 6'6" SG/SF Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Ukraine) EDITED

Submitted by ypsituckyboy on

Per Eric Bossi, a Rivals national basketball analyst, Michigan may be in line to receive a visit from a 6'6" rising star out of Ukrainian, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk. This would be a big deal.

Mykhailiuk would easily be a top-10 player regardless of class (2014/2015/2016), and is apparently eligible to enroll now since his academics are strong (his dad is a college professor). 

He was the youngest participant in the recent Nike Hoops Summit at 16 years old, and some scouts have said he's the best shooter in Europe right now, regardless of age. NBA scouts are very intrigued. 

By the Compare Him To Another White Guy Test, I'd say he looks like a more athletic version of Stauskas (note the Badger-dagger between-the-legs step back 3's in the videos below).

EDIT: Sam Webb touched on Mykhailiuk this morning in the recruiting roundup and basically said it's not gonna happen. So, there's that.

alum96

May 14th, 2014 at 8:52 PM ^

So yeah... a "young Ginobili" who is the best European prospect "since Ricky Rubio"...whose main weakness is a lack of things to improve upon. lol.

Strengths: A body built for basketball with very long arms and big hands, a tremendous athlete who can finish above the rim, very explosive and quick with hand-eye coordination that is off the charts ... The best way to describe his body is a young Ginobili, similar kind of smoothness and control of his body ... He had at least one steal per game showing excellent ability to anticipate passes and the closing speed to get to the ball for steals ... But what really makes him special is his creativity and skill level ... Mykhaliuk is equally confortable with the ball in his hands or without, which is highly unusual for a 16 year old ... He played for large minutes as a combo guard (at U16) running pick and rolls for Ukraine and he showed that he can shoot from behind screens from 3pts land or attack the rim but also read the defense to make great passes ... Mykhaliuk can read the screen to take advantage of what the defense gives him ... He often attacks players in isolation, taking smaller opponents into the post ... When he doesn’t have the ball, he cuts to try to find a spot where he is open ... When he struggles shooting, he attacks the basket to get fouls. The variety of ways in which he scored was absolutely amazing for a player his age ... Despite being doubled or tripled teamed every game, he always stays composed, making the right decision most of the time ... On defense he has everything to be great, quick feet and good lateral speed and he uses his length to create steals and get out on the break ... Sometimes when he is of the ball he tends to lose his defenders, but nevertheless he relentlessly hits the boards and when he gets the rebound push it himself in Lebronian way ...

Weaknesses: Mostly related to a lack of potential development. He can do everything so well right now that it’s hard to think he will actually add a great deal to his game. So the challenge will be finding ways to improve ... Obviously he can improve his left hand, and the ball handling (although it is amazing right now) needs some improvements to be efficient in the NBA as a point guard ... Mostly for him it will be important to adapt himself to playing within a good team where he is forced to share the spotlight ... Ironically I think his talent could shine even more because he is a very underrated passer who had some amazing assists you can’t teach in a gym, but moving to a good team could still be difficult for him ... While he has to become stronger to be able to guard NBA guards, he will have to be carefully with his body development in order not to lose some of his unique athletic skills ... He is basically an Adetokumbo who should be considered until proven differently, a future top 10 NBA pick ...

Notes: The best prospect in Europe in a long time, probably since Ricky Rubio ... In the US he would be considered a 5 star recruit, and according to sources he will be recruited from colleges as a 5 star recruit ... What Mykhaliuk showed at the recent U16 European championships was a mix of athleticism, skills and feel for the game that is extremely rare to see in a European player, or any player of his age, for that matter ...

 

LINK.

alum96

May 14th, 2014 at 9:03 PM ^

Not sure why everyone thinks Max is not coming back when Beilein was raving so hardcore about him.  It seems to have become a board meme - let's not count that chicken before it hatches.  I'd put in order of reality

  1. Caris leaves early
  2. Hatch reclassifies to academic
  3. Max leaves

And I'd put a lot of distance between 2 and 3 unless we see Max play 3-4 minutes a game this year, which I don't see happening.  If he gets 10-13 minutes a game I don't see him leaving the program in 12 months.

alum96

May 14th, 2014 at 9:24 PM ^

There will be a whole host of offers going out June 15th - there are far more than 4 choices.  Towns seems like he is going to get 1 of the openings from all the tea leaves.  It sounds like Brunson is not coming here - the recruiting seems to have gone away from him so again - reading tea leaves - he has probably cooled on Michigan.  Let's see who comes to camp first week of June and then who gets the offers.

alum96

May 14th, 2014 at 9:07 PM ^

@reanimator - since you have been following this guy - what is the benefit analysis of staying in Europe versus coming to the U.S. for him?  Guys get drafted straight out of Europe so is he potentially coming here to "get used to the U.S. game?"  And are the comments now meaning he is 100% coming to play in the U.S. or is it "if he comes to the U.S. these are the 3 schools he is considering"?  TIA.

reanimator

May 14th, 2014 at 9:14 PM ^

He is frail and he dominates his current level of play so h either

1. Gets an outstanding offer from a pro team and hides from scouts in Europe

2. Go to college and get top notch S&C, adjust to American athletes and become more visible

Apparently, Sviat wasn't to fond of Ben Mclemore and Mario Chalmers but Joe Harris and Stauskas intrigue him. He has also been on record saying bluebloods are intimidating because of 1&D and he would like to go to a school where he can get 15-20 mpg in a Zak Irvin role http://www.heinnews.com/basketball/nba/taking-the-charge-podcast-85-alb…

Sasha Kaun and Nike/Kansas/Self can make magic happen. though. 

alum96

May 14th, 2014 at 9:27 PM ^

Thank you.  From what you said he sounds like he is actually well versed in what is going on over here in the states in relation to bluebloods, 1&D, what schools develop players, etc.  Makes me feel incrementally better about it.  So if he classifies for this year we'll know in a week about him....

alum96

May 14th, 2014 at 9:37 PM ^

Mr. Goblin - I think people on the board are way too bullish on Doyle's playing time next year.  I see Donnal getting 22-24 minutes similar to Jordan Morgan after his RS year.  I see Doyle getting 6-10.  He is a nice 255 lbs now and I am sure he will do ok offensively but I think he is going to be in for a pretty shocking change of competition which is going to make him look lost on defense and substandard as a rebounder despite height.  He does not play above the rim and has not camped much at all so he is going to take a significant step up in competition.  Doyle would be best served with a RS - so I think Max might be the 2nd "center" off the bench and get about 10 min a night.

The 5 is difficult to play as a true freshman, even if you are Mitch McGary talent.  And Doyle is not the player Mitch was at that point in his career.  Mitch was also a year older in his real age (versus class designation) versus Doyle.  I hope people's expectations of Doyle are tempered his first year.   Jon Horford - AFTER redshirting - averaged 11 minutes a night his first year of playing.

I hope I am wrong and Doyle puts in 15 minutes a night and shocks us all with his competent defense and ability to rebound in traffic against Big 10 5's... but I am just going with probability.  If Mitch had come back I don't think Doyle would be playing this year.

ThadMattasagoblin

May 14th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^

Bielfeldt averaged 4.7 minutes a game, .8 PPG, and 1.1 rebounds per game. If we're forced to play him 13 minutes a game we're not going to be in a good position. I don't think being a freshman matters that much in basketball and I also don't expect him to be dominant but I think he'll be much better than MB.

Mr Miggle

May 14th, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^

About half of the games he never got in at all. You need to include those to get his average playing time, more like 2.5 mpg. Quite a bit of that was in garbage time. When it was not, he was usually overmatched and foul prone.

I don't know who's going to win a battle for playing time between him and Doyle, but Max needs to improve significantly to help the team. It will be his 4th year in the program. Maybe the increaased opportunites will translate into that increase in performance.

I'll be very surprised if Doyle is redshirted. Unless he's extremely raw, and perhaps even then, we can use his size and the options are very limited. We're one injury away from having no choice at all. I think he gets playing time early to get him ready.

 

turd ferguson

May 14th, 2014 at 9:27 PM ^

If I'm reading the NBA's collective bargaining agreement correctly, he'd first be eligible for the NBA Draft in 2016 (since he'll turn 19 in that calendar year).  So I guess if he comes to the States for college basketball this season, there's a good chance that someone gets him for at least two years.  Damn.  Do want.

Raoul

May 14th, 2014 at 11:18 PM ^

That is the way other people have interpreted the rules. Of course, after one year in college, he could always return to Europe and play professionally there for a year before entering the 2016 draft.

It still seems like a quite a long shot that he'll end up at Michigan. There are myriad ways for it to work out otherwise.

blueandmaizeballs

May 14th, 2014 at 9:42 PM ^

Nik had a 391\2 inch very last I saw which was better than anyone on the team except GRIII.  This dude must have some hops with great lateral ability I would take this guy in a yesterday.   

CorkyCole

May 14th, 2014 at 10:43 PM ^

DO WANT. I'm not going to get carried away just yet... But IF this Ukranian fella signs... Throw in the Irvin/Walton Summer Transformation... We be good. Real good. How have I not heard of him until now?