The Wolverine

August 2017

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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64 THE WOLVERINE AUGUST 2017 BY CHRIS BALAS I n June, several student-athletes with U-M ties heard their names called during the NBA, NHL and MLB drafts. D.J. WILSON THE LATEST NBA FIRST-ROUNDER FROM U-M In the past five years, only Ken- tucky (10) and Duke (seven) have had more first-round picks in the NBA Draft than Michigan (six). D.J. Wilson is the most recent Wolverine to achieve that honor. Wilson, who opted to bypass his last two years at U-M, was selected No. 17 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks June 22. He was especially outstanding during the postseason, which improved his stock. "I think during that time I played my best basketball of the year," Wil- son said at the NBA Draft Combine in May. "I heard a lot of buzz around my name." There was plenty of talk before the draft that he could move up into the teens, and he did. Wilson had managed only 72 points and 24 rebounds in 31 career games before the past season, but he broke out by averaging 11.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. U-M head coach John Beilein was pleased to see Wilson get picked so high. "I love the perseverance that D.J. showed throughout his three years at Michigan," he said. "He worked so hard as a freshman and then again as a role player in his [redshirt fresh- man] year. He spent countless hours those first two seasons getting stron- ger and working with our coaches to improve. "All that work paid off this season, as D.J. had a tremendous year. He was committed to proving he could play, and we saw him elevate his game time and time again. "We are thrilled for D.J. and his mother, Taniya. They have both sacri- ficed and worked so hard to achieve this success. I know D.J. will bring that same work ethic to the NBA. The best is yet to come." The first three years on Wilson's contract will be worth $6.36 million per the rookie pay scale on Basket- ballInsiders.com. His versatility and ability to play a number of positions and shoot the ball made him a great fit for an up- and-coming young team, Bucks gen- eral manager Jon Horst said. "[Head coach Jason Kidd] coaches in a way where guys are switch candidates, and they play in a way where they play multiple positions, have multiple skills," Horst said. "When we looked at D.J., we saw a player that can play the four, when he gets stronger and matures maybe can play the five, and has the skill set to play the three. So we see a lot of positional versatility with D.J." Wilson was outstanding in the postseason and is on an upward tra- jectory. "The things that he brings, when we talk about being 6-10, is being able to block shots, use your length," Kidd said. "That's our DNA. Hope- fully he can do those things that we see. When you talk about today's NBA, there is no position. "Look at the Finals — there is no center. So he fits what we're trying to build here." U-M'S NHL DRAFT STREAK HITS 22 YEARS The Carolina Hurricanes picked rising-sophomore defenseman Luke Martin in the second round (52nd overall) of the NHL Draft June 24. The day before Martin was scooped up by the Hurricanes, the San Jose Sharks selected incoming freshman Josh Norris in the first round (19th overall), making him the 21st first- round pick in program history. Michigan now has had 67 players taken in the NHL Draft in program history. The Wolverines have had a selection in the draft every year since 1995, and in every draft since its in- ception in 1969 except for five (1970, '71, '72, '81 and '95). Martin — who was No. 61 among North American skaters in the final NHL Central Scouting Service rank- ings — played in all 35 games for the Wolverines during his freshman season, notching one goal and six assists. He led U-M in blocked shots (76) and tied for the team lead in plus/minus rating (plus-2). Norris is coming off his final sea- son playing for the United States Na- tional Development Team Program in Plymouth, Mich., and will join the Wolverines this fall. He led the USNTDP U-18 team in points with 61 (27 goals and 34 assists) over 61 games. Norris was No. 34 in the final NHL Central Scouting Service rankings, after placing first in five categories at the 2017 NHL Scouting Combine. Both Martin and Norris will play for the Wolverines in 2017-18. "You're extremely happy for Josh and Luke, and obviously their fami- lies," U-M head coach Mel Pearson told The Detroit News. "I know it's been a long road to get to where they are today, and it's a reward for all the time and effort they put toward the game to making themselves players. "I always tell them, though, the journey just starts now. It doesn't After a breakout redshirt sophomore cam- paign, D.J. Wilson was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks 17th overall in the first round of the NBA Draft. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL   MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Wolverines Make Their Mark In Pro Drafts

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