The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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42 THE WOLVERINE AUGUST 2017 seven organizations — the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Los Ange- les Angels, New York Yankees and Bos- ton Red Sox, where he revived his ca- reer, in addition to the A's and Dodgers. Hill signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox on Aug. 14, 2015, and was brought up from Pawtucket Sept. 8. On Sept. 13 that year, Hill started his first Major League Baseball game in six years, giving up one hit over seven in- nings while striking out 10 batters. He finished the season with a 2-1 record and 1.55 ERA, and has been thriving — when healthy — since. 6. TIM HARDAWAY JR., SG ATLANTA HAWKS (NBA) Hardaway was nowhere to be found on this list a year ago, not even among the up-and-comers. He had a breakout season with the Hawks, however, averaging 14.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 79 games played — all career bests. Hardaway shot 45.5 percent from the floor, 35.7 percent from three- point range and earned a job in the starting lineup by the end of the reg- ular season and for the playoffs. The Hawks extended him a quali- fying offer in late June, meaning they'd be able to match what another team might give him — but they de- clined to equal the deal the New York Knicks awarded Hardaway, a player they originally selected in the first round of the 2013 draft (24th overall). Although he earned All-Rookie hon- ors in his debut and averaged 11.5 points his second year, he was traded to Atlanta on June 25, 2015, about one year after Phil Jackson took control of the team and installed Derek Fisher as the head coach. Less than two weeks after Jack- son departed as team president, the Knicks inked Hardaway to a four- year, $71-million contract. 7. ALAN BRANCH, DT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (NFL) The 32-year-old Branch revived his career with the Pats in 2015, starting 15 contests and collecting 35 tackles, one sack, three passes knocked down and two forced fumbles in the regu- lar season. He added another sack in the AFC Championship Game. He returned in 2016 to start all 16 games of the regular season, setting a career best with 49 stops, and started three more games in the playoffs. Branch finished 2016 having partici- pated in 760 defensive snaps, another new career high, in becoming an im- pact player for the league's best team. Branch reportedly ranked second among all NFL defensive tackles in Pro Football Focus' run-stop per- centage last season. He was PFF's seventh-most impactful interior line- man in yards per carry allowed after contact with only 1.8. He continued his impressive play in the postseason, notching 14 tack- les, including half a sack and fumble recovery in the Super Bowl. 8. FRANK CLARK, DE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (NFL) Clark easily could have made the Pro Bowl last year after notching 10 sacks and forcing a pair of fumbles, but he'll have plenty more chances. He's only been in the league for two years, and already he's become an outstanding pass rusher. He finished last season with 47 tackles in 15 games, despite starting only five contests. NFL.com believes he'll be the next Seahawk to earn Pro Bowl honors. "Seattle continues to groom new talent. Clark, a third-year end, is trending upward after topping his three-sack rookie campaign with 10 takedowns in 2016," the website noted. "Film reveals a high-motor player with the talent to whirl past tight ends and tackles into the back- field. … Clark is just getting going." 9. DAVID HARRIS, LB NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (NFL) A 2009 All-Pro entering his 11th NFL season and first with the Patriots, the former second-round pick has racked up 1,087 career tackles. He's lost a step, but at age 33 the Patriots thought enough of him to sign him to a two- year deal after the Jets released him during the offseason. He started all 16 regular-season games for New York in each of the past seven years prior to last year, when he finally missed one game. Harris finished 2016 with 95 tack- les, the first time in five seasons he didn't reach the 100-tackle plateau. His 63 solo stops were his fewest since his second season in the league, but he still has gas left in the tank. 10. JAMAL CRAWFORD, SG LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (NBA) The one-year Wolverine (2000) is now entering his 18th NBA season, and his numbers are still solid. He won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award for the third time in six sea- sons two years ago, averaging 14.2 points per game for the Los Angeles Clippers during the regular season, and he was at 12.3 points per game for them this year. He also averaged 2.6 assists and 1.6 rebounds per game. He was traded to the Hawks in a three-team deal this offseason, but was released the following day and thanked the team on Twitter for allowing him to become a free agent. He will reportedly sign with the Timberwolves. ❏ Tim Hardaway Jr. had a breakout season for the Atlanta Hawks in 2016-17, averaging 14.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. It resulted in a big pay day from the New York Knicks. PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES/NBA PHOTOS