MBB Recruiting: 6'6" SG/SF Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Ukraine) EDITED
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.
You not say Ukraine is weak!
Sam Webb threw cold water on Michigan's interest in Mykhailiuk on today's recruiting roundup, saying "Michigan is pretty much shut down on the Ukrainian kid." Unless something changes, he doesn't think this is happening.
Heard Sam's comment too, but he didn't really say why there would be no interest on Michigan's part, other than the fact that they've already got other guys targeted. Sorta surprised myself.
I don't think adding yet another player into the mix for 2014-15 makes sense at this point. The coaches will already be dealing with six freshmen and a redshirt freshman. Their interest in Mykhailiuk may have waned once they added Abdur-Rahkman and Dawkins to the 2014 class.
Have you listened to the interview with him posted in this thread? He on the one hand says he doesn't want to go to a top program such as Duke because he doesn't think he can compete with those players, but on the other hand he wants to immediately be playing 20 minutes a game as a freshman.
To me, he doesn't seem like a good fit for Michigan. It's going to be hard enough getting the 2014-15 team to mesh together with all the newcomers. Adding in a player who shies away from competition but wants big minutes in preparation for the NBA is asking for trouble on the team chemistry front.
So UM isn' going to pursue a top 10 guy because of 2 two stars? Instead, we are going all or nothing in a head to head with MSU over Eron Harris? Sounds good.
I took Sviat's "15-20 mpg" comment as being fine with a reserve role, which is similar to Irvin's role last year, and really, backing up Caris, Irvin and even Walon could easily have netted him that. I don't think avoiding 1&D factories is avoiding competition. either. How i it different than Bolden, Blackmon Jr, Huff, Booker, etc clamoring about playing time?
...Sam offered no reasoning. He simply said that his read on the situation is that Michigan is shut down on him, whatever that means.
With MAAR and Dawkins, you have two guys already on board, whereas with Sviat you have only the possibility of landing him. I would rather take the chance of getting Sviat, but I obviously don't have all of the information the coaches do.
sam not allways right. we are in his top 3. we will see on the 21. i bet he comes for a vist
looks like coach cal might be leaving ky. so we will be back in it with booker too
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk visiting KU this weekend and UVA next weekend @sevedge
— Setter (@SweaterSports) May 15, 2014
The very brief note linked through the tweet below mentions the Kansas and Virginia visits, then says, "Michigan is also said to be in the mix for Slav."
2014 SG Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk should be visiting Kansas this weekend #kubball http://t.co/aQPPVx3muu
— Matt Scott (@KUTheShiver) May 15, 2014
No worries, Dawkins and MAAR are future lottery picks and Eron Harris is 100% to UM!
...he isn't a good fit makes sense, I don't think we can assume his reasoning is why Michigan isn't after Sviat. As I said above, I share some of your confusion, but we don't know everything that's happening. Sam just said that his read on things is that Michigan is "shut down" on him. Maybe he told Michigan he isn't interested. "Shut down" isn't a phrase Sam uses a lot, so I don't know exactly what he meant.
Jeez, it looks like they play with a 9 foot rim.... what hops !!!!!!