The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/315684
2014 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE offense. With sophomore big man Mitch McGary headed to the NBA and redshirt junior Jon Horford hav- ing left the program, he'll have an opportunity to play immediately. That fact hasn't been lost on him. He's in physical therapy and training every day for two hours, five days a week. With the help of his own trainer, he's followed strength coach Jon Sanderson's workout routine, eaten better and gained 15 pounds in a few months as a result — he's now up to 220. When he watched Michigan play this year, which he did often, he couldn't help but envision his role — and his opportunity. He could have gone anywhere he wanted academi- cally, too, having been recruited by Cal, Harvard and others, but Michi- gan's status as the No. 1 public insti- tution in the country — coupled with great basketball — was too much to pass up. "I love the coaches, and they sold me academically," he said. "That comes first. But the program, how I fit in the system, playing style, the great vibe with the coaches and play- ers — overall, it was a perfect fit." Many in California thought so, too. The Sacramento Bee called him "a young man of class and character" after the state title game. O'Dowd coach Lou Richie said, "Wilson defi- nitely showed what his potential is. Our game plan was to let him beat us with perimeter shooting. He showed he could do that, and about every- thing else. He was amazing." Providing only the first glimpse of what he hopes — and expects — to show Michigan fans in Ann Arbor. ❑