The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
BASKETBALL RECRUITING ily ties were working against the other schools. Still, Michigan made enough of an impression to remain a viable option to the end. "They're most definitely still right there," Perry Dozier said days before the decision. "The strength and con- ditioning staff is a big standout over there. The staff is amazing. Coach [John] Beilein and his staff are incred- ible. The personality of the players — P.J. definitely liked the time he spent with them. The overall presentation of Michigan was outstanding. That's a good, winning tradition there." That hasn't changed, and it won't. Some will point to the 2015 class as proof that recruiting momentum has slowed, but anything Beilein and his staff get this year will be a luxury. There's one senior on the roster in big man Max Bielfeldt, and injuries have helped prevent him from being a major factor to this point in his ca- reer. The Wolverines will likely lose junior shooting guard Caris LeVert to the NBA if he lives up to expecta- tions — he's currently projected to be the No. 10 player available, an NBA scout told Yahoo Sports recently — but nobody else, leaving the roster looking like this for 2015-16: Seniors: Spike Albrecht, PG Juniors: Zak Irvin, SF; Derrick Walton, PG Sophomores: Mark Donnal,* C; Duncan Robinson,* SF; Kam Chatman, F; Ricky Doyle, C; Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, SG; Aubrey Dawkins, SF; D.J. Wilson, F; Austin Hatch, SG Freshmen: None * Redshirt There's room for two in the 2015 class if the coaches choose to go that route, but barring any unforeseen attrition (and while there's usually some, we expect most — if not all — of these players on the roster two years from now minus Albrecht), the roster is solid. Only a handful of targets remain in the 2015 class, and all would be considered long shots. Beilein recently traveled to Germany to recruit Moritz Wagner of Berlin, a 6-9, 194-pound forward and member of the Alba Ber- lin program that beat the San Antonio Spurs in October. Wagner has yet to sign a profes- sional contract with Alba Berlin and is considering attending college in the United States, though Alba has offered a four-year contract and believes Wag- ner will sign. "John Beilein flew in especially for Wagner in Berlin," BZ-Berlin.com wrote. "The coaching legend met with Wagner and his family." A scholarship has yet to be ex- tended, but Beilein did invite Wagner and his family to visit campus. Duke and UConn have also shown interest (Wagner plays with former UConn forward Niels Giffey at the club level), but Michigan was first to visit him. Wagner told Berliner-Zeitung that