The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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64 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2018 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan signee Ignas "Iggy" Brazdeikis wrapped up his pre- U-M career in Portland, Ore., the sec- ond week of April at the Nike Hoop Summit, proving his five-star ability once again. The Canadian forward had an outstanding practice April 11 for the World team, Rivals.com's Eric Bossi said, showing off his gifted scoring ability. "He looked like the World team's best shooter," Bossi reported from Hoop Summit practice. "The Cana- dian is a strong and skilled offensive player who can stretch defenses, and his 6-7, 225-pound frame allows him to be a good post scorer as well. "He looks like he should be ready to step right in and play important minutes for the Wolverines." Brazdeikis plans to wear Moritz Wagner's No. 13 now that the junior is off to the NBA, but he patterns his approach after someone else. "I definitely model my game after Gordon Hayward," he said of the former Butler standout, now with the Boston Celtics. "I feel like we are similar players in terms of being able to attack, shoot and make plays." The Mono (Ontario) Orangeville Prep star scored nine points and helped lead the World Team to a 89-76 win over the USA at the Hoop Summit April 13. Brazdeikis went 4 of 9 from the floor, grabbed four re- bounds and handed out three assists in 12 minutes played. The World Team was plus-seven during his time on the court, and he scored off the dribble twice, fin- ished an alley-oop with an athletic adjustment and looked like he be- longed with some of the world's best young players. "He continues to look like one of the best program fits I've seen in 2018," Bossi said. "He'll play inside and out for the Wolverines with his floor stretching jump shooting, and his toughness will allow him to be an asset on the glass." Brazdeikis told USA Today that playing in the NBA has been a dream of his since he was 6 years old. He averaged 32 points per game at Or- angeville Prep this year, won MVP awards at too many tournaments to mention and is an elite scorer. Thirteen players taken in last year's NBA Draft participated in the Nike Hoop Summit, and Brazdeikis figures to be among them in the next few years. He has plenty to accom- plish at Michigan before he goes, he told OregonLive.com. "I feel like coach [John] Beilein deserves a national championship, being a runner-up twice, as well as the Michigan program and Michi- gan fans. They definitely deserve a ring," he said. "Coach Beilein's just such a trustworthy guy. I was really proud, every single game [watching the NCAA Tournament], knowing I'm going to be putting on that uni- form next year." He was also confident enough to believe he could have helped the Wolverines beat Villanova in the title game, a 79-62 loss. "I was literally sitting on the couch, trying to do moves," he said with a laugh. "It was like, 'Put me in, coach!' I felt like they were missing me. I felt like I could have helped. It was amazing to watch them go that far, seeing them play so unselfishly." BEILEIN EXTENDS ANOTHER 2019 OFFER Beilein didn't wait long to hit the road following U-M's national cham- pionship game run, and he's gotten great feedback from some high-level recruits. One — Indiana four-star Keion Brooks Jr. — has been on the radar for quite some time, but many analysts believe Michigan is playing catch-up to a couple of Big Ten programs. If that's the case, Beilein made a positive step in closing the gap with an in- home visit, during which he offered. "Coach took his time [with an of- fer] to see what kind of kid he is, what he does," Brooks' father, Keion Sr., said. "He had an opportu- nity to see him up close, and that was what brought on the offer." Beilein loves the potential fit of the versatile forward that was named to the Supreme 15 Underclass All- State team by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association after averaging more than 20 points and seven re- bounds last season. The 6-7 standout, Rivals.com's No. 36 junior nationally, led Fort Wayne (Ind.) North Side to a 27-3 overall record and a runner-up finish in the Class AAAA state title game. Beilein's ability to develop players is one of the reasons for the renewed interest. "He just gets the most out of his guys," Brooks Sr. said. "The style of play, the runs that he's made … to get his second run at an NCAA champi- onship game is huge for any coach. "Just the way they play, the atmo- sphere he has around the team. … All of the guys are really in tune, buying in, and that's great to see." Beilein spent plenty of time on the visit explaining how he envisioned Brooks in his offense. "It was great. He showed a lot of in- terest and came by himself. He really did a great job coming in and giving his angle of Michigan and what he thought was so great about Michigan and what he could do for Keion," Brooks Sr. said. "He talked about what was going on off the court, what he was most im- BASKETBALL RECRUITING Class Of 2018 Signee Ignas Brazdeikis Impresses On The International Stage Brazdeikis — a 6-7, 225-pound forward from Ontario, Canada — contributed nine points, four rebounds and three assists in the World team's win over the U.S. squad at the Nike Hoop Summit. PHOTO COURTESY USA BASKETBALL/CAMERON BROWNE