The Wolverine

May 2013

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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  basketball recruiting   basketball recruiting Recruiting Philosophy Will Not Change O By Chris Balas ne-and-done prospects can be the lifeblood of some programs (think Kentucky), but many of those basketball standouts aren't interested in being student-athletes. Michigan head coach John Beilein and his staff are aware of that. They've made it clear they don't plan on changing their recruiting philosophy even though the Wolverines have gotten as much visibility as any program in the nation thanks to their recent run to the NCAA championship game. The last nine days of the college basketball season were an infomercial for Michigan basketball and the way Beilein runs his program, putting U-M on a national stage for everyone to see. They also made freshman big man Mitch McGary and frosh forward Glenn Robinson III hot commodities, with some analysts (including ESPN.com's Chad Ford) projecting them as first-round picks. The two had yet to decide whether they'd return to school as of April 16. It's the price paid for being able to identify young talent, but Beilein said both kids chose to come to U-M for all the right reasons, adding he wouldn't have done anything differently regardless of their decisions. "If a kid is going to be a guaranteed one-and-doner, we're only recruiting that kid if that kid's dream is to go to Michigan," Beilein said before the Wolverines' game with Louisville. "He wants to go here, he's still go- Rivals.com has elevated Michigan basketball signee Zak Irvin of Fishers, Ind., to its highest rating, five stars, and to a No. 24 national ranking. photo courtesy rivals.com ing to go to study hall and class, be a great teammate — we're not going to turn that kid down. "At the same time, the young men we've recruited right now may have opportunities like that in the future. Those guys didn't come in with that mentality for the most part. They've developed into great prospects." The incoming group includes 6-7 standout and 2013 signee Zak Irvin of Fishers (Ind.) Hamilton Southeastern. Irvin recently earned his fifth star from Rivals.com after being named Mr. Basketball in the state of

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