The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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you have that, and couple that with obvious skills, you have a chance to have a special player. He's becoming a special player. "He's a terrific one-on-one player, particularly around the top of the key. He's such a threat to lift up and shoot. In talking to people and scout- ing Michigan every time I have them for a game, he's terrific, as is Nik, at getting by people with whatever move he needs to make. "He's terrific with the ball, whether it's crossover, whether it's behind the back, whatever. That tells you the kid has worked at it. That's the most impressive thing." It all starts with the respect op- ponents have for his outside shot, Dakich cautioned. If that hadn't be- come deadly along the way, defenses would be giving LeVert a lot more cushion to maneuver without pen- etration. As it is, it's sag at your own risk. Stauskas edged LeVert in another shooting contest — but not by much. At the conclusion of the Big Ten regu- lar season, Stauskas had connected on 42 of 94 three-point shots, a per- centage of 44.7. LeVert checked in at 44.1 (30 of 68). "If he didn't have the jump shot, the lanes wouldn't open like they have been," Dakich said. "He's been able to increase his shooting to where now, when he shoots the ball, you pretty much think it's in, and when he misses, you're a little bit surprised. "Those are the things that have im- pressed me the most. What he does isn't easy. He's had to work like crazy to get to that point, you can tell." Not that LeVert represents a fin- ished product. He's still working to become a better defender, like all of his teammates. That's what can truly take him up a level, according to the former coach, turned ESPN broadcaster. "I say this about all young play- ers — if you really want to be great, you've got to look at what has made those before you great," Dakich said. "Michael Jordan, Scottie Pip- pen, Paul George right now — if you want to be great, you've got to guard. "You have to defend, and you have to defend like a maniac. You have to be somebody that just devours peo- ple. I say that because he has the kind of length than can devour people. That's his next step. He's got to be- come a guy that, 'Man, look at him.' If he's on the court, that team should be a really good defensive team. That is the next step." It's a step that hasn't become any easier, given the new NCAA empha- sis on hand checking and the like, LeVert admitted. "I've definitely noticed the differ- ence," LeVert said. "It's tougher on the defense, especially for me, guard- ing some of the toughest guards in the league. As you see, there are four shooting guards on the first-team All-Big Ten. I'm going against a great player every night. It was definitely tougher, and some adjustments had to be made." On the flip side, those same rules make Michigan's surging sophomore tougher to stop. And he's not slow- ing down for anyone. ❑