The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1468055
JUNE / JULY 2022 THE WOLVERINE 23 2022 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE "Jaelin Llewellyn finished first-team All-Ivy League last season, and top five in the league in points (15.7) and field goal percentage (44.7)," he noted. "Llewellyn carries the same traits that Jones did — aggression and confidence. "Llewellyn was one of [only] two Ivy League players with a usage percentage over 25 and an offensive rating over 109 last season. He also added 64 threes at a 38.4-percent clip. Howard seems to prefer headstrong point guards who can create, and Llewellyn fits that mold." He'll enter the season as the favorite to start at the point after Collins' sud- den departure. Though Collins showed flashes, including 14 points in an NCAA Tournament win over Colorado State, his shooting — 16.7 percent from long range, 44.1 percent from the free throw line — made him a potential liability far too often. Like Smith and Jones, Llewellyn will have to prove he can play at the highest level after spending four years in a lesser league. Shaw believes he will. Though more instinctive than high IQ , Shaw said, the Canadian guard obviously has the smarts to learn Michigan's extensive playbook. "He's a tough-minded point guard … a lead guard," Shaw continued. "He looks to score, and he can score … he touches the paint [on his drives]. He can shoot it a little bit, but he's more a downhill, rugged guard. There's a guy who played a couple years ago at Iowa State in Lindell Wigginton [now with the Milwaukee Bucks] who was also a Canadian point guard. I'm not saying he's the exact same, but the same ar- chetype player. "His shot selection has improved. The mechanics of the shot, the balance is good, but mostly finding his spots, he's improved. He's not wildly taking shots as he sees them come open. He's trying to mechanically get to a spot and knows how, and he can shoot off the bounce." Llewellyn has the potential to be what they thought Jones might be from the outset last year, Shaw added. Jones found a groove midway through the campaign, but he struggled some out of the gate. "You won't see that from Jaelin," Tarris Reed Jr. (right), a 6-foot-9 center, and Jett Howard, a 6-7 forward, are Michigan's highest-rated players in the class of 2022 at No. 26 and No. 34, respectively, per On3. They played in both the Jordan Brand Classic and Allen Iverson Roundball Classic high school all-star games in April. Howard was named MVP of the latter event. PHOTO BY JAMIE SHAW/ON3