The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1468055
24 THE WOLVERINE JUNE / JULY 2022 2022 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Shaw said. "Jaelin has played at a high level. He played Canadian ball, played high-level high school and AAU ball, played high-level games at Princeton, as well. I don't think it will be any type of overwhelming situation at all." But he'll also have to compete with a freshman in McDaniel (5-11, 167, On3's No. 65 player nationally) who, despite his own limitations, simply finds ways to win. He led Paul VI to a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference cham- pionship — an incredibly tough league — in what was supposed to be a rebuild- ing year of sorts for the program. He's reminiscent of former Wolver- ines guard Zavier Simpson in that he just refuses to lose. "Yeah, he's got 'it,'" Martelli said. "And again, if people want to say it about his size … yeah, it's to be seen. Coming off a ball screen at this level [is differ- ent]. What's his base? "But that's why I was fascinated with the things he did on the football field. He didn't just run away from people. He was physical. He maneuvered. That's the same thing." McDaniel shot 41 percent from long range, too, an area of his game many be- lieved wasn't good enough. He's continued to improve. "No question his shot has come a long way," Martelli said. "But you've got to have that little 'dog' defensively, too. I think he can. In our gym, if you don't have it, you're not going to be on the floor very much." More than anything, Shaw noted, McDaniel is simply a winner. "He's a fascinating one," he said. "He's really small. That's what you notice first. In that league, small point guards haven't necessarily been a thing. "But he's been small his whole life and produced at a high level his whole life. AAU, Paul VI and that league they're in. He has that 'it' factor to him, a little magi- cal ability with the ball in his hands. He's incredibly crafty, understanding angles and footwork and all that type of stuff, too. Everything about him checks the box that he won't pan out and is not good enough, except for the production when he plays." Jett Howard (6-7, 220, No. 36), mean- while, finished his prep career with an MVP performance April 30 at the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic, scoring 20 points in a loaded field. The Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy product is versatile enough to play three positions, though he'll start out as a wing and shooting guard, per Martelli. "He just gets bigger, and I think he gets more fit every time I see him," the coach explained. "And look — we need outside shooting, and he's a terrific addition." It was work to get him, he added. Ten- nessee came on strong at the end before Juwan's youngest son pledged to the Wolverines. He'll need to improve his handle to play the two-guard role, but he's an- other guy who's tough to keep out of the gym. "I'm not completely sold on his ball screen action yet, but he'll get there," Martelli said. "I go back through the years when Franz Wagner got here and I said, 'Oh man — we can't put him in the ball screen yet.' And you know how we run offense. There's a lot of it. I'm anxious to see him get to work with [fellow assistant coach] Saddi [Washington]. That, to me, would be a pri- mary thing." Shaw sees a guy with the potential to be a longtime starter on a college team that wins a lot of games. He's a "pure three" in the expert's opinion with the potential to play some power forward, as well. "He's a connective piece. I don't think he's great at any one thing, but he's not going to hurt you in any one thing, either" Shaw said. "He's kind of the glue piece, brings ev- erything together, plays hard, knows how to play, knows his role and plays it at both ends. "Jett can make a shot and create a shot, which will help, Dug McDaniel, a 5-11 guard, led Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI to a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship this past season. PHOTO COURTESY POINT GUARD EYES/TWITTER MICHIGAN'S 2022 RECRUITING CLASS Outlet Stars Nat. Rk. Pos. Rk. C Tarris Reed Jr., 6-9, 230, Branson (Mo.) Link Year Prep On3 26 — ESPN 31 8 247Sports 35 8 Rivals 29 5 On3 Consensus 31 5 SF Jett Howard, 6-7, 220, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy On3 34 — ESPN 41 13 247Sports 40 15 Rivals 41 8 On3 Consensus 36 14 PG, Dug McDaniel, 5-11, 167, Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI Catholic On3 65 — ESPN 59 11 247Sports 100 17 Rivals 93 20 On3 Consensus 78 11 PF, Gregg Glenn III, 6-7, 215, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Calvary Christian Academy On3 133 — ESPN — 14 247Sports 116 21 Rivals 89 11 On3 Consensus 124 21