COMMITMENT PROFILE
ence for me," Watson said. "He al-
ways liked to get in the gym and
wanted to work hard to get better
every day. That's why you do it. I feel
if I work hard every day, go in with
the same mentality he did, I'll get a
little better every single day."
Watson didn't shoot well in the
first April Nike Elite Youth Basket-
ball League (EYBL) session, but he
picked it up throughout the sum-
mer, finishing at 34 percent from
long range. He'll return to a team
with three other starters coming
back this fall, and he plans to do his
part to keep raising the bar for all of
them. He averaged 18.5 points, 6.0
rebounds and 2.5 assists per game,
while shooting 37 percent from long
range and 55 percent from the floor
for Central last year.
"I want to step up my ball han-
dling, my shooting and every part of
my game," he said.
If he does, he could be the next
sleeper to thrive under Beilein and
his staff.
— Chris Balas
FILM EVALUATION
Strengths: When he's on, Ibi Watson is an elite shooter. He's not afraid to let it
fly, and he can rip off five triples in a row to change a game. He's long and very
athletic, can get out in transition and has a work ethic that's second to none.
Areas of Improvement: There are times Watson defers to teammates rather
than attacking, when he'll coast instead of trying to take over. He's also got a
low release on his jump shot, something that could hinder him at the next level,
and is still working on his drive and finish game.
Michigan Player Comparison: Head coach Eric Krueger compares Watson to
former Wolverine Tim Hardaway Jr., and it's a good assessment. He's a decent
ball handler but not great, has very good athleticism and can be a great shooter
when he's on.
— Analysis from TheWolverine.com
