The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482097
36 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2022 2022-23 BASKETBALL PREVIEW situations. When the guys are not bring- ing it with their energy and effort in practice — which we haven't had a lot of — he's been able to speak. He's not afraid to have those uncomfortable moments. That's a sign of leadership that we always enjoy having." He's also being pushed by a true fresh- man who isn't big, but who plays with an edge. In many ways, Fairfax, (Va.) Pius VI point guard Dug McDaniel (5-11, 167) — a 4-star prospect and the No. 83 recruit nationally in the 2022 class, per the On3 Consensus — resembles former Michigan point guard Zavier Simpson. Although not the biggest man on the court, he often plays like it, taking pride in his defense and showing during Michi- gan's European exhibition games this summer that he could break down de- fenders and get two feet in the lane. That's made him a legit threat to start, and he'll certainly get his share of min- utes. He's a better shooter than Simpson, having improved dramatically in that area over the last few years, and he can lock up ball handlers. "Dug McDaniel is going to be special," Howard said. "He has that chip on his shoulder and is competitive, smart. He just knows how to play. He has great bas- ketball instincts. "That kid is going to be someone where everyone needs to grab your seatbelts and strap in. He's going to do some things out there on the floor. "Like all freshmen, he's going to make some mistakes. That's a part of it. But he is going to find his way to be a winner." McDaniel and Llewellyn could play together, given the impact McDaniel has made in practice. While all eyes have been on sophomore and former Mc- Donald's All-American Kobe Bufkin and his progress at shooting guard, McDan- iel has given the coaches something else to think about. Howard, in fact, is beyond that point. He's ready to put his plan into action. "He's earned it. Duggie is going to make you play him," Howard said, confirming his frosh would see time on the floor next to Llewellyn. "I'm not afraid to say it to the public or to our opposing teams. It's going to happen." Bufkin will have a say, too, after adding 20 pounds to his frame from a year ago. Few worked harder than he did in the off- season, the assistant coaches said in vari- ous interviews. Now he's got to prove he can be consistent on both ends of the floor. Bufkin is a better shooter than he showed last year, when he made only 22.2 Mike Smith, DeVante' Jones, and now … welcome, Jaelin Llewellyn. Michigan head coach Juwan Howard might not have planned on searching the transfer portal for his starting point guards in three of his first four years in Ann Ar- bor, but that's how it worked out after Zavier Simpson graduated following Year 1. He's not apologetic for it; nor should he be. With the immediate eligibility rule in effect and the unpredictability of college athletes (see: Frankie Collins, who unexpectedly left U-M for Arizona State after last season), it only makes sense to bolster the roster any way pos- sible. "It seems like there's a trend with the program," Howard said at Big Ten Media Day Oct. 12. "But it's all about the tim- ing of how it all works as far as what we needed at that position, and then the scholarships that we have available." Smith, a transfer from Columbia in the Ivy League, helped lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten title and Elite Eight run in the 2020-21 season that ended just a hair short of the Final Four. Coastal Carolina transfer Jones had his moments last year while playing through some injuries, averaging 10.3 points and 4.6 assists per game on a squad that reached the Sweet 16. Llewellyn, a native of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, was a first-team All-Ivy League selection last season after averag- ing 15.7 points per game, fifth overall in the conference. He's fit in well with his teammates, having hit the ground running. "I think it's been a smooth transition," Llewellyn said. "I've played a lot of college basketball. It's basically just trying to get the flow of the offense and figure out how to jell with the guys on the team. I think it's been pretty smooth so far." His teammates would agree. "Jaelin has been a real down-to-earth guy," junior center Hunter Dickinson said. "From his visit, I feel like it was somebody that I think we could jell well with. He's really approachable. "He's somebody I really enjoy hang- ing out with off the court. I think that's something that's really big. Hanging out off the court with him makes it eas- ier to play on the court with him." He's also very good on the court, though there are some areas for im- provement. Per advanced metrics sites, he made 55.1 percent of his shots at the rim, putting him in only the 23rd per- centile in college basketball last year (though that was higher at home, at 63.4 and in the 56th percentile). He made 38.9 percent of his midrange 2-pointers (67th percentile) and was even better at home at 54.5 percent (98th percentile), though he didn't take many. His 3-ball, meanwhile, improved each year. He shot 38.6 from long range last year and 69.6 from the line. "People are going to be very happy with his perimeter shooting. He's got a nice, quick stroke," assistant Phil Mar- telli said in September. "The point guard here is asked to do a lot — we run intricate offenses. With Jaelin, there's a maturity." And the expectation that he'll keep Michigan's point guard play at a high level in 2022-23. — Chris Balas Llewellyn, a Princeton graduate transfer, has a smooth and quick stroke from the outside. He shot 39 percent from 3-point range and averaged 15.7 points per game last season. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Jaelin Llewellyn Is Ready To Make An Impact