The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1468055
30 THE WOLVERINE JUNE / JULY 2022 2022 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY CLAYTON SAYFIE W hen Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI needed a bucket — down one point to Forestville (Md.) Bishop McNamara in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament championship with time winding down — it turned to senior point guard Dug McDaniel, trusting he'd get a good look. But Mc- Daniel dished it off at the last second, finding freshman forward Jaquan Wom- ack, who made the go-ahead basket with 0.7 seconds remaining. The Panthers, who were written off before the season due to having a young team with just two seniors, won their first conference title since 2014 and finished with a 31-5 record. McDaniel finished with 12 points in the title game, their only scorer to reach double figures in the gritty 43-42 win. McDaniel was their leader and the WCAC Player of the Year after averaging 11.7 points, 4.6 as- sists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals per contest. The season didn't come without its ups and downs, but the four-star and No. 65-ranked player in the 2022 class per On3 (and No. 78 in the On3 Consensus ratings) helped steer the ship. Paul VI started out 7-0 before los- ing two of its next three. The Panthers weathered the storm, though, used the adversity as fuel and finished strong. "I had to step up and be the leader that they expected me to be," McDaniel recalled. "I had to let [my teammates] know — 'No more losing from here. We're on a mission. We've proven we can be beat, and we're not an invincible team.' "Once I sent that message to my guys, the rest spoke for itself. We fought to the end. It just showed everybody how much fight we had and our willingness to do whatever it takes to win." McDaniel committed to U-M last June and signed his letter of intent in November. He's comfortable with his choice for many reasons. Chief among them — relationships. He's long been friends with classmate and four-star signee Jett Howard, with whom he played on the youth camp cir- cuit. And McDaniel was part of Team Takeover, the same Nike EYBL program that produced U-M juniors Hunter Dickinson and Terrance Williams II. "Michigan gave me a very family-ori- ented approach, very similar to PVI with a coach that I know personally off the court," McDaniel said, adding he sees similarities between U-M head coach Juwan Howard and Paul VI head man Glenn Farello. "I just felt comfortable about it. "It definitely made the decision eas- ier, having a guy like Coach Juwan, who I view as my uncle, coaching me. I feel like the opportunity couldn't have been better." McDaniel will bring the same traits he displayed during prep ball to Ann Ar- bor. The 5-11, 167-pounder is lightning quick, has great ball-handling skills and possesses the ability to score at all three levels. He's self-described as a "pass- first" point guard who prides himself on being "unselfish." What fires him up the most on the court, he noted, is when his teammates dive on the floor for a loose ball. In short, he's a great fit for Howard and Co. "We'll get out and run, play fast," Mc- Daniel said of how he envisions himself playing with the Wolverines. "I'm try- ing to bring a fast pace to the team, but also stay within the team, stay within what we're trying to do. "I love to pass, and I love pick-and- rolls with the bigs. I feel like I'm going to thrive in the system." McDaniel added that his main prior- ity on offense will be feeding the 7-1 Dickinson, like he did during practices with Team Takeover. "The chemistry was pretty good," Mc- Daniel said of when he was pulled up to play with the older age group on multiple occasions. "I feel like it's very easy to play with a big like that." While some have counted him out because of his size, h e 's d e f i e d o d d s before — both in- dividually and with his teams — and is willing to work to prove he belongs. He's already grind- ing away, preparing for his July 1 move-in day when he will be a Michigan Wolverine at last. "I'm always staying in the gym, perfect- ing my craft, because I feel like I'm go- i n g to h ave to work ex- tremely harder than the next man, just be- cause of my size and my position CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER Four-Star Signee Dug McDaniel Is Willing To 'Work Harder Than The Next Man' McDaniel on Michigan "We'll get out and run, play fast. … I love to pass, and I love pick-and-rolls with the bigs. I feel like I'm going to thrive in the system."