The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/70103
BASKETBALL RECRUITING when he pushes it, or if he can't he'll bring it up himself." He'll be a perfect fit at Michigan, Sattterfield predicted, with his ability to score inside and out. For now, the coach is happy to have Irvin for one more year. In Whitehouse, Ohio, 2013 pledge Mark Donnal (6-9, Rivals.com's No. 124 junior nationally) continued to battle through double and triple teams to lead Anthony Wayne High School into the state district finals. He averaged 20 points and nine rebounds this year. "He's met all my expectations," 180-pound two-sport standout told us last summer he might be ready to pledge to Michigan State, but quickly backed off. Michigan and MSU are now neck and neck, but Harris is also a talented wide receiver and listen- ing to pitches from Florida and others on that front. Both Beilein and Michi- gan State's Tom Izzo have said they wouldn't mind if Harris pursued both sports, though it remains to be seen if he will. "He's open," said Mike Harris, his head coach Bryan Borcherdt said in late February. "He's been a big force for us. He's got two or three guys guarding him on any given posses- sion, so it's important for him to move around, take advantage of the atten- tion and have other guys step up and make shots. "This is a constant learning situation Class of 2013 U-M pledge Mark Donnal averaged 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists per game for Whitehouse (Ohio) Anthony Wayne during his junior campaign. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM for him, where he's finding out where to move, constantly trying to figure out how people are guarding him and ways he can demand the ball more. He can dominate down low and is hard to stop. We work on positioning, sealing, moving the ball, getting isolated … moving inside, or in games where he's shooting well, from the outside back to inside, and running the floor. "He's hard to guard when does that, and we like to get him involved with offensive rebounding … all things where he can get his points even with the added attention." Anthony Wayne's season ended March 10 with a 52-38 loss to Norwalk in which Donnal scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds. "I've been getting double- and tri- the press and is a very good ball han- dler. Any time we get in trouble, he can be a go-to guy there, too." Borcherdt is looking forward to one Canterbury's Austin Hatch, a 6-6 2013, three-star shooting guard pledge, con- tinues to recover from a serious head injury suffered in a June plane crash. Hatch could reclassify to a later class as his health allows. of 2014 recruits for games during the Wolverines' Big Ten championship run. Among them: • Devin Booker, SG, Moss Point Michigan hosted a number of class MICHIGAN COACHES WATCHING SEVERAL SOPHOMORE TARGETS ple-teamed the whole season," Donnal said. "I've learned to play with it and trust my teammates. I just look for the open guy, because it two guys are on me, someone has to be open." To Donnal's credit, the effort never waned. He consistently got to the free throw line and found open teammates when he was the focus of a defense. He shot better than 70 percent from two- point range, and he had a game in front of Beilein in which he hit five triples. "He's a very good post passer," father. "He's just taking it day by day, going to his football visits, basketball visits. Then he's going to have to figure out sooner or later what he wants to do. "Personally, I would like him to do both … you never know what could happen. But ultimately it's up to him." • Sean O'Mara, C, Lisle (Ill.) Benet more year with his big man before sending him off to Michigan. One last note: Fort Wayne (Ind.) Academy: The 6-8, 230-pound O'Mara has been in Ann Arbor a few times, most recently for the Wolverines' win over Wisconsin, and has named U-M his outright leader. He's a solid passer out of the post, is developing a pe- rimeter game and is well liked by his teammates. O'Mara is likely to return for Michi- gan's camp this summer and will be one to watch closely. He was averaging 15 points and around nine rebounds per game in February. • Keita Bates-Diop, SF, Normal (Ill.) (Miss.): The 6-3, 180-pounder visited for a Michigan football game (Purdue) in the fall and was back for the Wol- verines' February home win over Ohio State in Crisler Arena with his mom (who was decked out in full Michigan gear). The son of former Missouri great Melvin Booker has also taken in Mis- souri recently — and yes, he's enam- ored with that program, too. "Michigan was basically the first col- University: The 6-8, 190-pound Bates- Diop visited for Michigan's game with Wisconsin and continues to develop. He's long and lanky, and has become more aggressive as a sophomore, able to score in a number of ways. Bates-Diop isn't close to a decision, Borcherdt continued. "He's a hard matchup because we'll pull the other team's big guy out from basket and cut people. He's averaging four assists per game and really sees the floor with his height. He's also very capable against 78 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2012 lege to ever get in touch with me and get me on the campus," he said. "Being the first one, they are always going to be there. They gave a good impression, and I just love the staff." Booker reported averaging around 23 points, eight rebounds and four as- sists per game for an 18-10 squad. • Drake Harris, PG/SG, Grand Rapids (Mich.) Christian: The 6-4, (Ind.): The 6-5, 170-pound Sellers might have to grow a few inches to play for an upper level Big Ten school, but he's skilled. He visited for a foot- ball game and was back in Crisler Cen- ter for a basketball game this winter. "I like Michigan's offense — how but he'll be in this summer for a return trip to Michigan's camp, having devel- oped a solid relationship with assistant LaVall Jordan. • Sean Sellers, SF, Greensburg they spread it, look for three-point shooters and their picks and pitches," Sellers said ❑ For regular reports on basketball recruit- ing, plus videos of all the top prospects in the nation and Michigan's commitments, visit TheWolverine.com.