The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/402034
BASKETBALL14-15 Top Freshman Big Men Of The Last 25 Years Michigan has had its share of freshman big man contributors over the past several decades. Here are the best of the last 25 years. 1. Chris Webber (1991-92): Webber, one of the most heralded recruits in the country when he arrived at Michigan out of Detroit Country Day, averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year and All-Big Ten honors. He also shot 55.6 percent from the floor. In two seasons, he scored 1,218 points and set a sophomore record with 690 points, later becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft after leading the Wolverines to two national title game appearances. 2. Juwan Howard (1991-92): If not for Webber, Howard would have been the headliner frosh big man in the country. Instead, he unselfishly filled his role on the team and played alongside his teammate to form the most formidable big man duo in the nation by year's end. Howard averaged 11.1 points and 6.2 re- bounds per game as a frosh and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. He left after three years and was selected in the first round (fifth overall) of the 1994 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets, enjoying a long NBA career. 3. Maurice Taylor (1994-95): Taylor started 29 of the 31 games in which he appeared and averaged 12.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while shoot- ing 47.1 percent from the floor. He was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year for the 1994-95 season and finished his three-year career averaging 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest before going on to a productive NBA career. 4. Robert Traylor (1995-96): The 6-8, 300-pound big man started four of the 22 games in which he played, limited by injuries, but still averaged 9.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 55.4 percent from the floor. The late Detroit product would average 16.2 points in his junior sea- son and declare for the NBA Draft, becoming a first-round pick (sixth overall, Dallas Mavericks). 5. Mitch McGary (2012-13): McGary averaged 7.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 59.8 percent from the floor in starting eight of 39 games, but it was his play in the NCAA Tournament that earns him a spot on this list. He posted double-doubles in three of six NCAA Tourna- ment games and was a rebound short in two others, even notching a 25-point, 14-rebound showing in a Sweet 16 win over Kansas. McGary missed most of his sophomore season with a back injury before declaring for the NBA Draft. He was a first-round pick and is now a rookie with the Oklahoma City Thunder. — Chris Balas TRAYLOR