Basketball Recruiting Discussion: Stephen Zimmerman (2015 5* Center) to visit
http://michigan.scout.com/2/1286745.html
Paid article; info in article title
Edit: Front page material, so discuss any 2015 (or other) basketball recruiting info here. Who do you want? Who do you think Beilein will eventually land?
April 26th, 2013 at 12:18 AM ^
Please don't take alcohol to a HS game, especially wearing maize.
I think it would be better if you didn't do that. I am sure this kid gets enough of a sale pitch everywhere he goes. The coaches will take care of this to the best of their ability. I would refrain from contacting any recruits in any way. I am not sure if this is an NCAA violation but I am sure it is in bad taste.
April 26th, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
Not only am I from Vegas (don't live there anymore), but Gorman is my high school alma mater. Go Gaels!
One of my favorite color schemes: Orange & Blue.
Also, the Gorman athletic department was, at one point, ranked ~8th in the country. Not sure where it is today but probably still really up there.
Good call. Title changed to open up the floor.
April 25th, 2013 at 10:01 PM ^
April 25th, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^
No offense taken. Like you said, sometimes basketball stuff gets lost in all the offseason football news...so maybe a solid discussion involving M basketball recruiting news/prospects would be worthwhile.
April 25th, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^
Rivals has a highlights/evaluation video here.
This article says he has "offers from UNLV, Arizona, UCLA, Kansas, Connecticut and others."
April 25th, 2013 at 10:57 PM ^
Is this just a bad highlight video or should I not expect much from highlight videos of big men? No basketball expert, but it looks to me like he plays like a 7 ft high school player. Bunch of dunks, blocks, and rebounds over 6'4 guys. He can dribble a little, but I didn't see what makes him a 5-star. Can anyone point me to a better video or is this a normal, dry video of a big guy dunking on smaller guys? He obviously has the offers to back up his play, but I just don't see what is so remarkable. Does he have crazy stats in a tough league?
~Herm
April 25th, 2013 at 11:09 PM ^
High-Major quality Centers in high school are always going to dominate based more on physical advantage rather than skill in highlight video. That's part of the reason why it's a common saying that "big men develop later" because they won't be tested skill-wise until later in high school and in the AAU circuit.
That said, what jumps out to me (from this video) is his shot blocking. That was I'd say the largest portion of what they were showing off in his video. What seemed impressive to me about it though was that he would come out of nowhere to get the blocks, even considering he's generally around the basket. I also get a high-motor sense from him, which is something that pays dividends in college (see: Mitch McGary). I agree dunks aren't that impressive in high school, but what you should look for is how far away from the basket he can elevate to jump and/or how far above the basket he can get. That's not something I can comment on for Stephen, I've not followed him much until recently.
April 25th, 2013 at 11:13 PM ^
Herm - Watch more basketball, buddy. This kid is a huge physical freak. And just a kid. We want him, badly.
April 25th, 2013 at 11:23 PM ^
Herm, do you know any 7 footers in the NBA that can lead a break and dribble behind their back in stride? No? I think that tells you something. That kid is crazy good.
April 25th, 2013 at 11:42 PM ^
Haircut.
April 25th, 2013 at 11:35 PM ^
Well, what are you hoping for exactly? Do you expect him to dribble like Pete Maravich and have the explosiveness of LeBron James?
That's what Fred Jackson thinks of him.
April 25th, 2013 at 11:41 PM ^
He would be the best commit Beilein has ever had if he commits. His skill set for a 7 footer is UNREAL. He can move and handle the ball like a wing, but defends inside at a very high level. And unlike any Beilein Michigan recruit, he actually has post game. Not sure how much he likes us, but it would be a huge pick up for Michigan if we got him.
April 26th, 2013 at 12:26 AM ^
Oh yes, excuse me, I forgot this is MGoBlog. Since he's a five-star and interested in us, he's the greatest thing since sliced bread and any questions about what quality of opponents he's playing are unreasonable. Granted, if he was visiting MSU, everyone would be all, "LOL Sparty, have fun with your stick figure" "Better not break him!" "LOL he's from EARTH why are they recruiting him?" "Scout is the worst basketball ranking site! Everyone knows that!!!" blah blah blah. Excuse me that he looks like the only player over 6'4 in the video and plays with his face to the basketball for pretty much the entire video (though again, obviously this is a good thing no matter what because he might come to UM, if was wasn't interested everyone would be questioning the 1.5 post moves he showed). I'll go put my rose-colored glasses on so I can fit in here.
you might try dropping the fake geriatric character. It was fun for a while, but it's getting a bit (inauthentically) old.
You tell me how to change my username and I'd do it.
Email Brian/Seth or a Mod. Not rocket science....
Herm, with all due respect, Zimmerman's 10th grade highlight video is very impressive.
I do know where you are coming from though. You probably remember when Bill Russell starred for those National Champion, San Francisco squads, or Lew Alcindor with UCLA, or even the Big Dipper, Wilt Chamberlin, with Kansas back in the day. Sure Zimmerman's 10th grade video can't compare with 3 of the best to ever play the game, but what can we truly expect? Bill Russell if you remember, was very limited offensively, with only a couple rudimentary offensive skills. while Wilt Chamberlain like to dunk, it was one of his specialties. Lew Alcindor was the only one of these 3 all time greats to have a highly skilled offensive game upon arriving to college and it resulted it pretty much never losing a game.
You've seen Zimmerman's 10th grade, 7', highlights, Here are a few more of Withey 4* and Cody Zeller 5* to compare him with. I will also try to find some film of your contemporaries, Russell, Alcindor, and Chamberlain from their college days!!!!
Withey and Zeller:
Bill Russell showing why he might have been a 5* but was only a 3* coming out of HSLew Alcindor with UCLA:
April 26th, 2013 at 10:01 AM ^
colored glasses.
April 26th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
It's not just us mgoblog poster's that seem to think he is very good...espn has him as the #5 person in that class (granted it's early) but he is most certainly an elite prospect.
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/142…
April 25th, 2013 at 10:19 PM ^
April 25th, 2013 at 11:26 PM ^
I also noticed he popped a three or maybe just a long jumper from the top of the arc. I don't know how his 3 point shot is, but if he can add that shot to his arsenal then that's quite a weapon.
April 26th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
I don't have insider but from the preview portion of the ESPN scouting report...
"The left-handed Zimmerman is extremely skilled and his IQ for the game is impressive. He can nail threes, jump hooks, and his passing is high-level. At the elbow his vision is impeccable as is his patience of waiting for the play to develop."
So it seems as if he has the range, fairly developed offensive arsenal, etc.
Zimmerman is going to get an offer and 2015 could be a monster class.
so we have some work to do. Still lots of time, if his mind is open.
April 25th, 2013 at 10:10 PM ^
He's a 2015 guy. I guess I just don't see how that's late.
April 25th, 2013 at 10:54 PM ^
It might have to do with how Beilein doesn't usually offer kids early in high school (although, perhaps he is still in contact with the kids, just doesn't offer), so it's likely that many other programs have scouted/visited/contacted/offered him to this point. So we may have some room to make up in terms of relationships, etc.
That being said, this program can sell itself exceptionally well, based on style of play, facilities, and personnel. I'm sure he was watching the tournament, too...and that definitely didn't hurt our chances.
Because in some ways a run like this has made the investment worthwhile and "paid us back," but in actual dollars, you're right, it is not close. They estimate the run will only make under $8 million for the whole Big Ten.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130409/SPORTS0201/304090427
Is the 2014 class shaping up to be a good one? I don't really follow basketball recruiting.
April 25th, 2013 at 10:22 PM ^
Not really, but maybe. We have Ricky Doyle in hand, a 6'9" guy with nice back-to-basket game but probably a high three star type. I think he was hurt for much of this year, so he could show great improvement and move up into the top 100 range. After that we have been in on Devin Booker for a long while. He's a high 4-star type SG who seems to be pretty interested in some of his newer offers such as Duke, UNC, Kentucky. We may have a good chance with him, but he seems to have opened his recruitment up. His dad Melvin played at Mizzou, and they're in his top group too. Next up is Trevon Bluiett: 6'5"ish, plays fairly slow and low to the ground but can make shots from anywhere. Top 50ish, silky touch. I think he is purported to be headed to Bloomington, but we would be in his top 3 or so. After that it falls off. There's a kid from Warren DeLasalle who might be good, but is pretty skinny right now. He's probably ours if we offer. Ummm there are some more candidates for offers that I can't think of right now. There are rumblings about picking up interest from Kevin Looney, a 6'8" very athletic forward from Milwaukee, he's a top 10 guy but Michigan hasn't been tightly involved with him. In summary, if we get everyone, it will be good. If we get no one, it will be ok.
April 25th, 2013 at 10:39 PM ^
April 26th, 2013 at 12:25 AM ^
April 26th, 2013 at 12:31 PM ^
Bluiett is down to Butler and Michigan, not really looking at IU. And has been leaning very heavily towards Butler since they joined the A-10 becasue it allows him good competition plus can stay very close to home
I did not know that. Thank you. What do you think about his game? I really have no idea what to think. Is he a better athlete than I'm giving him credit for?
I mean he's an athlete, not a freak or anything, but he can really shoot. I have only seen one of his games live and it was a blow out so not much else to say. But yeah he has those two, but hasn't tipped when he'll declare