The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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BASKETBALL RECRUITING Michigan's Three-Man Class Is Among The Nation's Best N BY CHRIS BALAS in a number of ways. Not only did the Wolverines manage a 6-0 start and No. 3 national ranking on the court, they signed three more pros- pects that, collectively, rank as Ri- vals.com's No. 11 group nationally. Whitehouse (Ohio) Anthony ovember proved to be a fruitful month for Michigan basketball 15-7 record and the district champi- onship game in the state tournament. He averaged 14.9 points and 6.3 rebounds as a sophomore. "We have loved Mark's potential Wayne big man Mark Donnal (6-9, 225, Rivals.com's No. 23 power for- ward and No. 107 overall player nationally) and Fishers (Ind.) Ham- ilton Southeastern wing Zak Irvin (6-6, 180, No. 9 shooting guard and No. 34 overall prospect in the coun- try) signed their letters of intent Nov. 14, while Harper Woods (Mich.) Chandler Park Academy's Derrick Walton (6-0, 170, No. 10 point guard and No. 47 overall player in the land) followed suit two days later. "We are excited Mark, Zak and Derrick have joined the Michigan basketball family," U-M head coach John Beilein said. "These are three young men coming from outstand- ing families with strong academic backgrounds. They are very talented young men who also value being great teammates. "They will fit right in as we con- tinue to build a positive culture within this basketball program." Beilein compared Donnal to for- mer Detroit Piston Bill Laimbeer — he's able to step outside and shoot, but also willing to bang inside. He's young — he'll play his entire senior season at 17 years old — but skilled, and averaged 19.6 points and 9.2 re- bounds last year. Donnal earned Associated Press Division I All-Ohio third-team hon- ors as well as the AP's Northwest All-District first-team accolades in 2011. He added All-Northern Lakes League first-team honors and Toledo Blade's All-Blade Team (Best of the Rest) recognition after his junior sea- son, helping Anthony Wayne to a 66 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2012 from the first time we saw him," Beilein said. "He is very skilled, has the ability to shoot, and is very young. He will grow into his body. We like the idea that he is a develop- ing big with a very high ceiling. At 6-9, he will be tough enough to play center and skilled enough to play as a stretch power forward." The four-star power forward spent last summer playing for former Indi- ana coach Dan Dakich's Indiana Elite AAU team. Donnal's brother, Andrew Donnal, Point guard Derrick Walton of Harper Woods (Mich.) Chandler Park Academy is part of a haul that Rivals.com ranks No. 11 in the country after the early signing period. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM is currently a 6-7, 302-pound offen- sive lineman at Iowa. Irvin, a two-year starter for Ham- velopment," Beilein said. "He pos- sesses the ability to play any perim- eter position. He is an outstanding defender and shooter and really loves to compete. "We are looking forward to coach- ilton Southeastern, averaged 18.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a junior, earning 2012 Indiana Junior All-Star team honors following his team's 22-3 overall record. Hamilton Southeastern owned the state's No. 1 ranking for a majority of the season and has won back-to-back Hoosier Crossroads League titles, capturing 18 straight conference games over two seasons. Irvin averaged 10.7 points, 2.8 re- bounds and 1.3 assists as a sopho- more during a 20-4 season, leading Hamilton Southeastern to a Class 4A Sectional 9 championship before being eliminated in the 4A Regional quarterfinals. Michigan assistant Jeff Meyer iden- Chandler Park Academy, averaged 26.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 steals and 7.0 assists per game to earn 2012 Class B All-State first-team honors from the Associated Press, Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. He has helped the Eagles to three straight Charter School League titles and to a 2012 Class B regional title game. Walton scored 47 points and notched 12 rebounds against Detroit Crockett (March 9, 2012) in a break- out junior year, and posted a quadru- ple-double against Chavez Academy (Jan. 31, 2012) with 34 points, 11 re- bounds, 10 assists and 10 steals. He played for Team USA in the ing him because of his versatility, length and attitude." Walton, a three-year starter at tified Irvin as a freshman when he was playing with the junior varsity, giving the Wolverines an early "in." The U-M coaches expect him to be a matchup nightmare for teams in the mold of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Glenn Robinson III. He'll also bring it on the defensive end. "We have been tracking Zak for Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim, Germany, over the sum- mer, seeing action in all six games and averaging 7.7 points, 3.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds per contest. "Derrick's excellent point guard four years now, and it has been incredible to watch his overall de- skills and natural leadership will make him a great addition to our roster," Beilein said. "His outstand- ing court sense tells him when to pass or score. He sees the floor ex- tremely well on both offense and defense. His teammates will love