Portal In: Sam Walters
Remember this morning when I said Michigan still needed a power forward?
Walters chose Michigan over Ohio State, Kentucky, and Louisville after a freshman season as Alabama's 7th man. He profiled last year as a straight-up stretch four Just-a-Shooter plus decent defensive rebounding.
Walters came off the bench every game last year, extending his time on the court to ~15 mpg in the latter part of February. However Walters was stymied by classmate Jarin Stevenson also coming off the bench to play the four, and wasn't very efficient (16th percentile to Synergy) in transition for a team that got 38% of their initial shots (to hoop-math) on the run.
What Walters can do is get a shot up over just about anyone. He was 94th percentile to Synergy on *Guarded* catch-and-shoot jumpers at 43%, actually dipping down to 35% (15/43) when uncontested.
His transfer video shows a pogo-stick with a clean release and not a lot of meat on the bones.
Defense is also predicated on that wingspan. It also sounds like he improved a lot over the course of last season. Feet may limit his NBA upside, but Walters's height and length, and a season of SEC experience, should mean he's not a liability on the other end. On a team filled with creators, adding a floor-spacer like Walters should mean Michigan can score with anybody. Adding a sophomore should also mean Dusty May isn't forced to go portal hunting like this again in two years.
Matt D will have a much more thorough breakdown after he sorts through the rest of this weekend's commitapalooza. Here's what the roster roster looks like:
PG: Tre Donaldson (Jr), Durral Brooks (Fr), [Lorenzo Cason (Fr)]
SG: Roddy Gayle (Jr), George Washington III (So), Justin Pippen (Fr)
Also SG: Rubin Jones (Sr*), [Nimari Burnett (Jr*)], [Jace Howard (Sr*)]
PF: Will Tschetter (Jr), Sam Walters (So)
C: [Vlad Goldin(Sr*)], Danny Wolf (Jr)
Michigan is now up to nine players committed for 2024-'25, with Vlad Goldin widely expected to join them after he goes through the Draft process. Nimari Burnett and Jace Howard (who can be a walk-on) haven't entered the portal or announced returns. From here they're probably going to keep pursuing 2024 5-star Khani Rooths for a 3/4 role, and/or look to add one or two more guards.
Appreciate the love for Tschetter, but Walters didn’t commit to sit behind him.
Yup, I agree. Cheddar would likely be the end of the bench player.
He may not start, but he's not going to the end of the bench
I mean if you look at the current depth chart
PF: Walters | Wolf | Potential portal player | Cheddar
C: Goldin | Wolf | Cheddar
That's the end of the bench player. He's being recruited over and Cheddar accept it.
From everything said Wolf is not going to be playing PF. Unless May changes up what he had always done. If other lineups play 2 seven footers then May may go with Goldin and Wolf but most likely Wolf will be mainly backing up the 5. Especially now we have a 6 foot 10 power forward. Will if he shoots like last year will get about 15-20 mins a game. May likes to play smaller but in the Big Ten he might have to go a little bigger depending on matchups. Will is the captain of the team also.
I think Wolf is a 5 but from it sounds like May will give him some minutes at PF. It'll happen in the B1G against teams like MSU, Indiana, etc.
I think Cheddar is slotted for 5-10 min a game if he gets it at all. He barely played on a 8 win team, I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't play much with the current team.
I understand if people didn't follow last season's team closely, but to claim that Tschetter barely played for it is profoundly ignorant. He was 6th in minutes played per game and was very often the 1st player off the bench
Cheddar had one of the best three pt shooting percentages on the team and got up and down. His D sucked, but he is going to do well in this style of offense. As a super hungry and ready to redeem upperclassman, I wouldn't count him.
Cheddar isnt a true PF in May system even though he's a shooter. May prefers a wing at PF and Cheddar is most certainly not. He's a stretch big.
Wolf is a center, period.
Merry Commit-mas!
I'm still tempering expectations but rebuilding a roster with a portal sure seems easier than Beilein had to do early on. May seemingly has a plan here and it looks good.
Correct. With the rules at the time, I think Beilein could only get grad transfers otherwise they had to sit a year. So had to build with high school players.
Yeah, it was a different time and while I still think a new coach deserves time and grace to rebuild a team (similarly, I'm not judging Moore harshly if UM, relatively speaking, struggles this season), the portal definitely allows good coaches with a solid system/outlook put a proof-of-concept team out there in year 1.
What's notable in his film is he gets the shot off with people in his face, with no drop off.
"with no drop off"
He actually has a significant "pick on"
I’d still like Mahaney but I don’t think you can fit him, Goldin, Cason, and Rooths. And potentially Elliott as well.
Goldin seems the most likely commit. Assuming Jace and Nimari is still on the team then Mahaney becomes priority #1.
Don't think Cason and/or Rooths are in the fold, but Rooths would fit in nicely at the 4 if Mahaney is a no go which moves Gayle to the 2 and Jones to the 3.
Yeah, Rooths seems like a longshot but this team has already changed its construction so much in the past week that a guy like him might be encouraged that it wouldn't be a wasted year to come play for May and possibly even make the tourney. Georgia and FSU, two other teams he's been linked to recently, aren't particularly inspiring on that front.
Yeah agree the priority should be Goldin and Mahaney as 1 and 2.
Praise the Lord, we can have nice things again. Thank you Dusty
Glad to see a mix of 1 year, 2 year, and 3+ years of eligibility. It's a nice balance to ensure competitiveness now and continuity going forward. Not to mention there are multiple options for each role.
I’m really looking forward to next basketball season. Not much can really be expected, but I’m optimistic.
I wonder why Walters would have transferred. He was part of a very successful Bama team and leaving for a relative unknown at UM. I doubt NIL was a huge reason.
Is it because he thought he was beat out by Stevenson and would get more playing time at UM? I have the same question about Donaldson.
Wolf and Jones as uptransfers make sense. Gayle obviously came to his senses and wanted to leave Ohio.
Bama brought in 3 forward and Walters didn't get reassurance from Oats for PT so he transferred for more PT.
Dusty May has no interest in a rebuilding year! This is exciting stuff. Mahaney is the next target, you'd think.
Those shot mechanics...he looks like a robot or a copy/paste from Tecmo NBA Basketball. And I mean that in the best way possible.
This could be a tournament team in May's first season.
Or Double Dribble...
I know it isn't one of the MGoBlog staff doing it, but props to the guy putting up all these transfer portal videos. Really nice to get to see some clips and then what the guy does. Excited to see Sam playing for us next year
I'm pretty sure it's UMHoops actually
He's got some Michael Porter Jr quick trigger to his game. Welcome!
How I wish he could have a summer of Camp Sanderson.
A few points I'd like to make with yet another exciting signing for Dusty.
- Crazy to think how down we were a few weeks ago and in the last 72 hours we just added SIX new players....most of whom have multiple years of eligibility!
- While I do think Walters will play the 4 for Dusty given the way he likes to run his program and the roster construction, he was exclusively a 3 at Alabama - always playing with a couple of bigger guys. He literally does nothing but shoot assisted jumpers....and do so very well. I think there are significant concerns on defense and rebounding at the 4, but as a 4/3 wing who drains 3s we'll take it!
- Love that he has a ton of eligibility left too.
- I really wish we'd stop speculating about Jace being a walk-on. Hasn't happened for the last 4 years, doubt it happens now. He might not be on the roster, doubt he takes a walkon role.
While I expect another wing/PF to sign before the dust settles, I already like this roster even if it isn't done.
1 - Donaldson (30), Jones (10), Pippen
2 - Gayle (30), Jones (10), Pippen/GW3
3 - Jones (10), Nimari (20), Walters (10)
4 - Walters (15), Tschetter (15), Wolf (10)
5 - Goldin (30), Wolf (10)
Goldin has never played 30 mpg (he has never played more than 25 mpg) and Wolf absolutely gets more than 10 at C.
You don't want your 7 footer playing that many mpg without being an Edey/Dickinson type.
At 6-10 and 198, he’d better commit to the buffet line, too.
Blue eyed woman and Maize grenadine.
The program is Dusty and recruiting is clean.
Sound of the Victors and the fans pouring in.
And it looks like the new coach is getting on
Curious. Why more guards? Arent they a Goldin commit and a strong defensive/rebounding 4 away from a well-rounded roster?
Lotta white guys ! Will we pull off the quaint and outdated but still hilarious Bill Simmons Whitewash this year?
C: Goldin (25 mpg)
2. Wolf (20 mpg)
F: Walters (20 mpg)
2. Tschetter (20 mpg)
3. ????? (redshirt)
G: Gayle (25 mpg)
2. Pippen (redshirt)
3. Howard (0 mpg) *walk-on*
G: Davis / Mahaney (30 mpg)
2. Jones (20 mpg)
3. Washington III (5 mpg)
PG: Donaldson (25 mpg)
2. Brooks (10 mpg)
3. Cason (redshirt)
*if Michigan doesn’t get Davis or Mahaney, then Burnett stays, gets 25 mpg at a guard spot. Jones increases to 25 mpg.
If Davis or Mahaney don't commit...
C: Goldin (25 mpg)
2. Wolf (20 mpg)
F: Walters (20 mpg)
2. Tschetter (20 mpg)
3. ????? (redshirt)
G: Burnett (25 mpg)
2. Pippen (redshirt)
3. Howard (0 mpg) *walk-on*
G: Gayle (25 mpg)
2. Jones (25 mpg)
3. Washington III (5 mpg)
PG: Donaldson (25 mpg)
2. Brooks (10 mpg)
3. Cason (redshirt)
+/- 3 mpg per player.
*if Michigan doesn’t get Davis or Mahaney, then Burnett stays, gets 25 mpg at the guard spot. Jones increases to 25 mpg.
I’d expect Pippen to play minutes and I am not sure I can say the same about Phat Phat
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:38 PM ^
I love the pickup. He is a near-perfect college player. He has great size and shooting on top of looking like a four-year player. I don't think the NBA will have interest because of his very low shot loading (brings the ball down to his knees almost every time) and lack of bulk and athleticism to guard NBA 3's or 4's.
April 23rd, 2024 at 12:02 AM ^
Thanks Tim
April 23rd, 2024 at 12:54 AM ^
I just don't understand what's happening with college basketball. My dad is a Vols fan and they've been very good of late yet they too seem to change out 80% of their roster, annuall, via portal.
Its unbelievable as it appears no matter how good someone plays they enter the portal.
This can't be how its gonna be is it?
April 23rd, 2024 at 12:56 PM ^
seems like the better they play, the more likely it is that they can go elsewhere and get paid more.
just like professionals on the job market, you generally get a raise when you switch jobs
Dusty is the opposite of Juwan in terms of roster construction. I’d much rather worry about maybe having too many guards than almost none at all.
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