The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FEBRUARY 2023 THE WOLVERINE 57 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan basketball needs guard depth for future years — heck, the Wolverines could use it this season — but it appears help is on the way. Day- ton (Ohio) Chaminade Julienne Catholic guard George Washington III (6-foot- 2, 165, No. 112 player in the On3.com consensus) has played extremely well this year and was a scoring machine in a game with Atlanta Pace Academy Jan. 15. He scored 26 points at the Flyin' to the Hoops Invitational contest, one above his average for the year, a week after putting up 39 — including the game-winning jumper as time expired — in a victory over a powerful Wayne (Ohio) team. Washington was shooting around 51 percent from the field as of Jan. 15, just above 45 percent from behind the three-point line, and around 91 percent from the free throw line. The former Ohio State pledge picked Michigan over Wake Forest, Louisville and others when Michigan head coach Juwan Howard of- fered him, and the coach was thrilled he did. U-M assistant Saddi Washington got a firsthand look at him when he saw him at Flyin' to the Hoops, where Washing- ton III put on another show. "I like to call myself a leader," the se- nior guard told On3's Jamie Shaw. "I'm someone who communicates on the court and leads a team. I like to play an exciting style, shoot from anywhere, and try to get on that rim. I try to do what I can to win the game." Washington has done it extremely well so far this year in leading Julienne to a 14-1 record as of Jan. 16. He hopes to make an early impact at Michigan, having felt the love when he visited Ann Arbor in the fall. "For me, it was being on campus and seeing how well I would fit in their sys- tem … getting to really develop a rela- tionship," Washington said. "I was able to get a really quick and strong con- nection with Coach Howard and Coach Washington — who was here tonight watching me — and all the coaches on staff. It felt like a family from the jump, everyone involved. "If I go in and do my thing, I think I'll have a chance to impact winning and affect the team's record [my first year]." Putting the uniform on and stepping on the Crisler Arena floor for the first time is what he's looking forward to most. His message to Michigan fans: "Get ready. I'm trying to bring a championship home." Washington is well aware of U-M's history. "Every kid dreams about playing on that stage, and I've always been a huge Fab Five fan," he said. "Playing for one of the [Fab Five] players is cool, but also just being on that stage — it's as big as it gets. That is going to be amazing." Washington told ProInsight.com his ball handling and shooting were his two greatest strengths. "Ever since I was little, I haven't al- ways been the most athletic. That's really changed now, but growing up, I was always a little slower," he admitted. "So, working on my handles and shoot- ing, shooting the ball the right way, was something that I really focused on because it was something I always had control over. "Now, I feel like I've gotten a lot more comparisons to like a [NBA standout] Jamal Murray, a player that has that shot-creating ability, handling, can play kind of the one or two, but also he can get to the basket and make plays at the rim. Being able to be in the weight Washington has averaged 25 points per game while leading his Dayton (Ohio) Chaminade Julienne Catholic team to a 14-1 record as of Jan. 16. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS BASKETBALL RECRUITING U-M Commit George Washington III Continues To Shine On The Court 2023 NOTES • Class of 2023 big man commit Papa Kante and his South Kent (Conn.) School team haven't played a lot of games in the last several months, and Kante hasn't put up huge numbers. He scored 6 points in a 75-72 win over St. Thomas More Jan. 10 and also put up 11 in a 76-71 win over Vermont Academy Jan. 7. • Colorado Prep three-star big man Baye Ndongo from Denver chose Rutgers over offers from Michigan, Colorado and others Jan. 9. "I chose Rutgers because of how they want to use me, and I like the coaching," Ndongo said. He joins former U-M shooting guard target Gavin Griffiths of West Hartford, Conn. (No. 43 On3 consensus) on the Scarlet Knights' commit list.