The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/888498
NOVEMBER 2017 THE WOLVERINE 77 COMMITMENT PROFILE East Lansing (Mich.) High four- star power forward Brandon Johns became the headliner for Michi- gan's 2018 recruiting class when he pledged to U-M over Michigan State this summer, but now he'll have to share the spotlight — and he'll do so happily. Johns (6-8, 205), Rivals.com's No. 65 overall prospect nationally, was always bullish on the idea of playing with other great players at U-M, and Canadian Ignas Brazdeikis of Mono (Ontario) Orangeville Prep certainly fits the bill. Brazdeikis, a 6-8, 200-pound four- star, pledged to the Wolverines Sept. 22 over Vanderbilt, Florida and others. He'd likely be a top-40 prospect if he played in the United States, Rivals.com analyst Eric Bossi reported, and there might not be a better fit in the country given what the Wolverines like to do. "It was the perfect fit," Brazdeikis said. "Even before Michigan ever recruited me, I always thought it would be a perfect fit watching them play on TV. It is a dream school, and being committed now is unreal. "The connection I built with the coaches and players was very strong, and it felt like home when I visited." Michigan had been watching Braz- deikis for more than a year, but the forward's recruitment really took off this summer. He dominated games with Canadian AAU club CIA Bounce on the Nike Elite Youth Bas- ketball League circuit, averaging 21.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 29.0 percent from three-point range. Though not especially impressive, the latter number shouldn't be cause for concern, Bossi said. "A lot of that is shot selection," he insisted. "Also, he's a scorer. He's one of those guys that's going to keep shooting on days that are not going so well for him. "He's a very good athlete and knows how to play. I think he's a great pick-up." Vanderbilt, for one, didn't go down without a fight. Commodores head coach Bryce Drew sent his whole staff on an in-home visit, and it gave Brazdeikis plenty to think about on his September visit to the school. Michigan, though, had too much going for it. Brazdeikis is friends with Nik Stauskas, the former Wol- verine Big Ten Player of the Year now with the Philadelphia 76ers, and saw what Beilein did for his game. It's close enough to home that his fam- ily can drive to see him play, and the education is top of the line. "Every box that I had was checked, and it is the perfect place for me," he said. Stauskas has since predicted Braz- deikis will be a pro, probably in two or three years. Bossi foresees some great games ahead in maize and blue first. "It sure seems like a perfect fit in terms of what he and Michigan do well," Bossi said. "He's skilled and can score, but I think how tough and how competitive he is has really been undersold and understated at this point." Much the way Stauskas' similar traits were after he arrived at Michi- gan. Brazdeikis put up a handful of 50-point games this summer, and is so adept at putting the ball in the hole that Orangeville Prep coach Nate Johnson calls him a basketball "unicorn." "Ignas right now is one of the most gifted scorers in North America," Johnson said. "He can score at all three levels. He can get to the hoop, can shoot from mid-range and can shoot the three at a high clip. "He's also very crafty with angles, driving angles in particular. He uses his body really well, and he's a gifted finisher around the rim." He can play small forward or power forward, and his feel for the game is off the charts. "He's that European-style player who has athleticism, which is really rare," Johnson said. "He has that Eu- ropean skill set with an American mentality." Johnson especially likes the fit for Brazdeikis at Michigan, saying he's excited to see what he does once he's on campus. "Iggy is an absolute stud, espe- cially for Michigan's system," John- son said. "Everything that Michigan does is exactly what Iggy's game is predicated on. "He's an awesome kid. He's one of the most loyal people I have ever met. He just wants to come in, work as hard as he can and do the right thing. That's what he's about." — Chris Balas Potentially Elite Wing Ignas Brazdeikis Pledges To U-M Brazdeikis — a 6-8, 200-pound four-star prospect from Mono (Ontario) Orangeville Pr e p — p i c ke d t h e Wo l v e r i n e s o v e r Vanderbilt, Florida and others. PHOTO BY JORDAN WELLS FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Ignas Brazdeikis is big, strong and skilled small forward, al- ready 6-8 and 200 pounds. He's a scorer who can get buckets at the rim off the dribble, has a strong pull- up game and great range on his jump shot. He's also a high-energy player. Areas Of Improvement: Brazdei- kis isn't gifted athletically, though he's a good athlete, and he's not shy about pulling a shot anytime, anywhere, so selection will be key for him at the next level. He'll need work on his lateral movement to de- fend in the Big Ten. Michigan Player Comparison: U-M hasn't had many like him. Some call him a "bigger, more skilled Zack Novak" because of his toughness, but he's five inches taller than the former captain. He shares Novak's basketball IQ, as well. He has the moves and an inside/out game simi- lar to Michigan forward DeShawn Sims. — Analysis from TheWolverine.com