The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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BASKETBALL RECRUITING Signees Mitch McGary And Nick Stauskas End Careers As Champions share of the 2011-12 Big Ten title. There seem to be even better days on the ho- rizon for head coach John Beilein's pro- gram, however, given how the class of 2012 signees and class of 2013 pledges have fared this year. The class of 2012 trio of Mitch Mc- M ichigan basketball has already proven it's back, capturing a ented four-star wings in the recruiting fold," Rivals.com wrote. "Robinson III, the son of The Big Dog, has blossomed into a terrific prospect. Stauskas is a versatile shooting guard with nice size for his position. But the crown jewel of Michigan's strong recruiting effort is McGary, who is the top power forward in the 2012 class." Stauskas, though, might be one of Gary, Nick Stauskas and Glenn Rob- inson III is currently ranked No. 5 na- tionally by Rivals.com. "John Beilein has a couple of tal- Stauskas led Southborough (Mass.) St. Mark's to the New England Prep School Class AA title by compiling 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists en route to MVP honors in the championship game. PHOTO BY JACEY ZEMBAL the most overlooked in his class. Last year's New England Prep School Class AA title game loss to a talented Tilton School squad hurt him so badly that a rematch remained on his mind all year. He got his wish March 4 and made the most of it, scoring 19 points in earning MVP honors following a 59-53 win for his Southborough (Mass.) St. Mark's team. Stauskas (6-6, Rivals.com's No. 79 senior nationally) added eight re- bounds, four assists and three blocked shots and defended well, to boot. He hit back rim on many of his first half shots but made 4 of 10 triples overall in picking it up in the second half. "That was such a big game," an try last year, too, but especially this year." But now, he added, "I'm ready to move on to Michigan." He'll arrive in June ready to go, in- sistent he'll work hard enough to earn playing time as a freshman. "I know next year we [the freshmen] will be able to help out a lot," he said. "The national championship is a goal for this program now." McGary (6-10, No. 3 player in the McGary led Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy to the mythical national title as the nation's best prep school program at the National Prep Championships in New Haven, Conn., in early March. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM over Hargrave Military Academy. "More than stats can show, McGary's defensive impact changes the game for Brewster. His post defense and thor- ough cleaning of the defensive back- board allow Brewster guards to leak out in transition and create easy scor- ing opportunities." McGary is talented, no doubt, but emotional Stauskas said. "We were never down the whole game. At one point we were actually up 16, but they made a late comeback and started hit- ting some shots, dunks. In the end we pulled it out and got the win … I'm so happy." Tilton had won four straight New England Prep School titles before St. Mark's ended the streak. "This is such a good group of guys," he said. "Everyone is such good friends. We had good chemis- 76 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2012 nation according to Rivals.com) and his team seemed destined to finish the season undefeated, but Northfield Mount Hermon stunned Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy, 87-83, in the New England Prep School Class AAA semifinals March 2. McGary scored 14 points, but the Bobcats shot an abys- mal 11 of 27 from the free throw line to fall to 30-1 overall. The news got better when Brewster captured the mythical national title as the nation's best prep school program at the National Prep Championships in New Haven, Conn., in early March. "Mitch McGary saved his best game it's his motor that's going to help him excel in the Big Ten. He's already got a Big Ten body, and he's a great team- mate. He also debunked rumors that he'd be in a hurry to leave Michigan after three NBA teams scouted him in non-high school settings this year. "McGary said he isn't remotely of the tournament for the champion- ship, finishing with 12 points and at least that many rebounds, likely more," the New England Recruiting Re- port wrote after Brewster's 87-76 win announced as participants in the 2012 All-American Championships, a high school all-star event to be held in New Orleans April 1. The event includes 38 players who will make up four teams. The East and West will play each other at 3 p.m., while the North and South will battle immediately afterward. Finally, Robinson led St. John ready for the NBA and is looking for- ward to playing at Michigan with Rob- inson III," ESPN.com wrote. Both McGary and Robinson were (Ind.) Lake Central to a sectional title March 4, a 63-37 win over Highland. Robinson led all scorers with 24 points BY CHRIS BALAS