Darius Morris may end up as Michigan basketball coach John Beilein's first player taken in the first round
CHICAGO — Darius Morris has one more chance to be a first for his college coach, John Beilein.
He can do something Manny Harris, DeShawn Sims, Kevin Pittsnogle and Mike Gansey didn’t. Morris has the potential to be Michigan coach John Beilein’s first first-round NBA Draft pick.
Morris said when he decided to stay in this year’s NBA Draft, his toughest call was to Beilein, who turned him from a Top 100 prospect out of Windward High into the most improved player in college basketball last year and a potential first-round NBA pick.
Even though Morris’ return to Ann Arbor would likely have made Michigan a Top 10 team next season, the former sophomore guard said Beilein understood his decision.
Darius Morris, left, says he hopes he makes Michigan coach John Beilein proud when he's drafted.
“He got a little emotional,” Morris said. “Because in his 33 years of coaching he has never recruited somebody and actually had that person get drafted. For me to potentially do that means a lot to me.”
Beilein did recruit and coach former West Virginia star Joe Alexander, but by the time Alexander blossomed into the eighth overall pick for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2008, Bob Huggins was his coach. Huggins is often credited with developing Alexander.
If Morris is drafted and stays in the league, he’d also be Beilein’s first player to have a prolonged NBA career.
Pittsnogle signed with Boston after going undrafted but never played an NBA game. Alexander is playing in the NBA Developmental League. Harris played in the NBA his rookie year with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After Morris made his decision, he said he spoke with Harris — who questioned whether or not he was making the right move.
“A lot of people think he influenced, he definitely did not. Actually, when I called him and informed him of my decision, he was like, ‘Are you sure this is what you want to do? You have to look at this from all aspects,’” Morris said. “Then we started to go through the pros and the cons.
“If you do come back to college, you guys are going to be at Top 10 team. And if things don’t go right, then that’s something to think about. He’s just a real honest guy with an honest opinion.”
For Harris, he could have left after his sophomore season and would have been a sure-fire draft pick, perhaps a first-rounder. He returned for his junior year, injured his hamstrings, both he and his team struggled. Harris eventually landed a undrafted free-agent deal with Cleveland.
That Beilein never had a player drafted surprised Morris, who is hoping his career dispels myths that Beilein can’t coach a player to the NBA. Morris said, though, he thinks he might be the first of many at Michigan.
Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. has sure-fire NBA potential and with development, forwards Jordan Morgan and Jon Horford could possess NBA ability.
“I think that I can help by just being an example that it is possible to go play for coach Beilein and have a good career on the NBA level and get drafted,” Morris said. “Kind of eliminate that stigma that he doesn’t produce pro players, because he does a great job of coaching not just on the court but off the court, preaching discipline and also helping people mature.
“That’s something you need to get to this next level, and I think it’s going to help a lot, people seeing what I went through and my progress.”
Morris is planning on watching the NBA Draft in Los Angeles on June 23, although he said he could go to New York for the draft if he were to be invited.
Either way, when he hears his name called that night, he’s hoping Beilein will be nearby.
“This could be his first one,” Morris said. “Hopefully my dream is that I get drafted and he is somewhere near, and I can see the look on his face and make him proud.”
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by email at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
rocco
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 5:42 p.m.
I agree with georgegoright that it's mind boggling that Beilein never produced an NBA caliber player. It goes to his recruiting and player development. By the way, I consider the summer that Morris spent with John Wall more critical to his development than Beilein's coaching. Morris returned last year with confidence. He also got bigger and stronger, something he did on his own. Crediting Beilein with his development is like crediting a higher power for some miraculous recovery. And Ghee Whiz stop maligning coaches and players involved in the one and done phenomenon. Skilled athletes are entitled to their maximum earning potential. It also takes a very skilled coach to work with these athletes. Beilein is not one of them.
macjont
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 11:10 p.m.
The NCAA could put an end to the "one-and-done phenomenon" by going back to the rule that prohibited freshmen from playing varsity competition. That would force the NBA (the true culprit here) to develop a true minor league program and stop using the college game as its developmental league. Surely, for a time that would diminish the quality of the college game, to me an acceptable price to pay for a return to a return in the major sports to the era of the true student athlete. One-and-done is a joke, and all those involved in the system that enables it are to be if not "maligned," at least otherwise criticized.
81wolverine
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
This decision was certainly a gamble for Morris. If he ends up in the 2nd round it wasn't worth it. If he goes in the 1st, then I can say he probably made the right decision overall. I hope for him that he is a first rounder. I really hope that players leaving after their 2nd year does not become the norm at Michigan. I'm kind of old school and prefer to see kids stay to get their degrees.
GeeWhiz
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.
With the one-and-done rule, many kids get drafted in the first round but certainly not due to the wonderful coaching they received in college. Coach Beilein is all about developing talent and building character which most of the one-and-done "recruiting" coaches do not care about. While the "rented" one-and-done first rounders might appeal to some, I prefer recruits who want to improve their talent while acquiring a world-class education. Those will come to Michigan and stay at Michigan!
georgegoright
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
"Because in his 33 years of coaching he has never recruited somebody and actually had that person get drafted. For me to potentially do that means a lot to me" I find this totally amazing! Am I the only one that feels this way? How can Michigan ever expect to get a decent recruit with this hanging over Beilein and a part of his resume?
tater
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 1:04 p.m.
Now that his decision is made, Morris is fully deserving of the support of Michigan fans, whether or not they agree with the move. In his favor are the decisions of many players ahead of him to return to school this year. There are about six in particular who were expected to stay in the draft and would have been picked ahead of him. Hopefully, those six slots opening up are enough to get Morris a guaranteed first round contract. First round picks are treated like filet mignon. Second round picks are treated like hamburger. Here's hoping we see "Filet ala Morris" in the NBA this season.