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Posted on Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 1:05 p.m.

John Beilein discusses strategy in recruiting 'one-and-done'-type players to Michigan basketball team

By Kyle Meinke

JOHN-BEILEIN-2.jpg

Michigan coach John Beilein has restocked the Wolverines' program with top-shelf talent. The trick is hanging onto it. Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

The Michigan basketball team's highest-regarded recruiting class in years arrived on campus this summer, and there's another good one in the bag for next year.

But as the Wolverines climb the rungs of college basketball, they will continue to encounter an issue that has been raised the past three years: The possibility these players leave early for the NBA.

Guard Manny Harris declared for the draft after his junior season in 2009, and point guard Darius Morris did the same after a breakout sophomore year in 2010.

Last year, star point guard Trey Burke weighed whether to turn pro -- and reportedly nearly did so -- before electing to return to Michigan for next season.

Those are good problems to have, since they show Michigan is stockpiling its program with the kind of high-level talent that it went so long without. But they still are problems, as high turnover rates can disrupt the chemistry of a program.

Wolverines coach John Beilein discussed the issue of recruiting so-called "one-and-done"-type players during a Wednesday morning interview on WDFN-AM (1130).

“You’ve got to recruit the best players that you can get," Beilein told guest hosts Larry Lage and Rico Beard. "If a guy is like a Kobe Bryant, and he comes and says, 'I’ve dreamed my whole life of going to Michigan, but I’m only going to be there one year,' that is a different thing to us than we’re in the top-10 list of this guy who’s a sure one-and-done.

“You can lose really good players slotted right behind him chasing that one. So, we try to choose our battles very carefully, as to who we’re going to recruit with the really super prospects.

“It’s Michigan. We should be recruiting the best players we can get. That Michigan brand is huge, so we can get really good players, but same time, you have to be really careful how you balance it.”

The Wolverines attracted a pair of highly regarded recruits for their 2012 class in wing Glenn Robinson III -- a late-bloomer who finished as a five-star recruit -- and forward Mitch McGary -- once ranked among the top-five players in the country before a late slide.

They are joined by guards Nik Stauskas, Caris LeVert and Spike Albrecht, a group that is ranked No. 7 nationally by Rivals, No. 9 by Scout and No. 14 by ESPN.com.

Hardaway told reporters recently that the freshmen "destroyed" the veterans in an early scrimmage.

The talent is there -- and now, thanks to an NCAA rule change, the coaching staff is allowed to work with the players this summer. That has aided their development ahead of a season in which the Wolverines are sure to face rising expectations -- and scrutiny.

“You’re teaching them fundamentals of the college game," Beilien said in the interview. "You’re cleaning up things, things that their high school coaches have no time to do. Balance, fine-tuning the shot, all the different things that high school coaches don't necessarily have time to do. And then you get them acclimated with our (veteran) players, teach them the culture.

"I like what I see. I love this team’s zest, that freshman spirit, and I love the upperclassmen and how they've embraced them.”

Beilein also warned, though, that although the freshmen are brimming with talent, they still are freshmen who have a long way to go before they are finished products.

"We have five freshman in our 12 scholarships. Five freshman. That's what, 40 percent?" he said. "It is very very difficult for freshmen to come in.

"Darius Morris (now with the Lakers) could prove to be a heck of a NBA player. If you look at his freshman year, there was a lot of adjustment he had to go through before, all of the sudden, there are breakthrough moments in his sophomore year. ... Or, they all could come in like Tim Hardaway and Trey Burke and just be incredible freshmen. You just don't know -- so unpredictable."

Click here for the full audio of the interview.

Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.

Comments

rocco

Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 9:31 p.m.

Beilein is not likely to have much success recruiting or coaching one and done players. His system is not designed for them. They don't feel comfortable with it they have miserable time fitting in. That's the reason Manny and Darius left early. Trey Burke is an anamoly. First, we got him by default since OSU didn't want him. Second, he exploded Beilein philosophy that freshman are "too young" to contribute substantially. (Again he's mentioning with the new freshman coming in his team will consist of 40% freshman. As if it made a difference. It doesn't with top recruits.) Freshmen can't contribute if you recruit "projects" and Beilein is the master of that. Burke has been to the special b-ball camps for top college point guards. He knows he is headed to the NBA along with Hardaway, McGary and Robinson. So how will Beilein be able to work with these one and done players? My guess is he won't be successful at it because his system is too rigid and the players have loftier goals.

redceder1

Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 5:12 a.m.

Gotta beat Ohio State first. Sorry, I mean Ohio.

Adam

Wed, Aug 1, 2012 : 5:37 a.m.

They will this year. Probably pretty easily.

boo

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.

go get the best players and win. if they leave for the NBA it looks good not bad. if they transfer, it looks bad. Kentucky had about 6 \8 or 9 one and dones the last two years. All left for the NBA lottery. Guess what, Kentucky will get 4 or 5 one and dones this year too. If you win an ncaa championship, no one will care if they only stay one year. Beilein is right, it's stupid if they dont recruit those kids, they have to. But you also can't chase a kid you no is leaving if you have a chance at a slightly lesser player but is still a 4 star recruit.

Billy Bob Schwartz

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 12:21 a.m.

Trey was a one-and-done until he didn't leave. Best thing to do is get the best recruits, teach them well, have great teamwork, and win a ton. It isn't always so, but often there are men on the top teams who could have left after freshman or sophomore year, but who are still there as seniors. Great school, great coaches, great teams, and great seasons help a ton!

MQual

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 4:42 a.m.

Trey was not a one and done. He performed better than expected and still wasn't considered a one and done. Trey didn't have that kind of hype before the season. In hindsight he maybe should have but when he was recruited he wasn't considered a one and done.

Goober

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.

Living in Ann Arbor for 22 years now, the only brand that comes to mind is arrogance.

Billy Bob Schwartz

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 12:18 a.m.

Hey, Goob. Fill 'er up and check the oil, okay? Oh, and one man's pleasure in his school's excellence is another man's arrogance. It's nice to have the option.

michigan7011

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 9:26 p.m.

I rather be arrogant than a hypocrtical hater.

Mike D

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 7:58 p.m.

This is a 20-20 hindsight question. There is no decision process here. Why wouldn't you recruit players that will go to the NBA in 1 or 2 years? You have to, especially if your competition is.

heartbreakM

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 7:47 p.m.

I think the "one and done" player makes a mockery of the university system. Supposedly these guys are 'student-athletes', but if you are 'one and done', you don't even have to go to class in the second term since grades are not in until after the final games. While you never know if a player wants to leave early, or is even good enough, to recruit such a player knowing in advance that they want to up and leave--that is just a mockery of the system. Even if it brings a championship, I don't support it. That's one additinoal reason I think Calipari is such a joke and bad for college ball (not to mention his constant run of violations)

ferdcom

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 4:25 a.m.

Heartbreak, Two words --- Steve Jobs.

heartbreakM

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 1:59 a.m.

Steve: Your question is totally theoretical but besides the point (and really, not based in reality). If a player goes to any college in engineering--they are going to the school that best suits them for academic pursuits. They may join the student government, student theater, newspaper, etc, but they are there to be educated. (And no engineering firm would hire them after 1 year of education anyway). If a student announces before they go to school that they are to play ball for one year, academics be darned, that is not a student athlete but rather an athlete using the only avenue they have to go pro. Unfortunately, the NBA does not have a minor league or any answer for these non-students, but they really have no place in college *unless we view the college basketball as a minor league rather than "student-athlete". I am an idealist--I hope that students who are athletes will take advantage of their education and growth opportunities while in college and actually mature while getting a full-ride and no student debt. If you gave an engineering student that deal, they would be thrilled to take it--I am involved with scholarship in my community and we have many people who need a few thousand to attend UM in engineering etc, and many who can't attend because they can't afford it and we only have one scholarship. If you are a coach, and you know that the player is there for one year only, I think it is a mockery to take them on, if being a student-athlete is the goal. If the goal is to win at any cost, then whatever, but I hope my coaches do better than that. The coaches that I like best not only develop the talent and win, but also develop the character and educate (and encourage education). Look at Red as an example, who always encourages his players to return and graduate.

Steve

Thu, Jul 19, 2012 : 12:25 a.m.

If an engineering student was offered a million dollar contract after his freshman year, would he or she be making a mockery of the University? They didn't get a degree but they have the skills to get paid now, so why not?

ROCKY COLAVITO

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 7:22 p.m.

The problem is that Izzo guy...

michboy40

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.

Didn't Kentucky will the whole thing last year with at least 2, if not 3 one and dones?

michboy40

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.

That's win, not will

Jason Walker

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 : 7:07 p.m.

Like the approach and philosophy. Get A- level guys, coach them up and put a TEAM around them and you will succeed. However, Darius Morris is going to rot on the bench for the rest of his career.