April 10th, 2020 at 12:02 PM ^
That's great news!!
April 10th, 2020 at 12:04 PM ^
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4066806/mike-smith
Seems like a solid player.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:05 PM ^
BREAKING: Michigan adds high-scoring transfer guard Mike Smith
Smith led the Ivy League in minutes, points and steals, and finished second in assists this past season. In three games against high-major opponents (St. John's, Wake Forest and Virginia) this season, Smith averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 turnovers.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^
Seems like a capable replacement for DDJ, but probably a step down defensively. But those are really good numbers against three legit P5 teams.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:19 PM ^
Chicken/egg question. What came first, DDJ transfers, therefore Smith commits OR Smith tells Howard he's coming and, as a result, DDJ transfers?
April 10th, 2020 at 12:23 PM ^
Christopher silents, then DDJ wants out, then Juwan starts looking for grad transfer PGs, Aiken says hes not coming, then we offer Smith
Michigan told Aiken they would be taking Smith. Smith was not offered after Aiken just FYI.
That’s good cause I think Smith is a better pickup. I’ve just heard about Aiken being connected to Michigan longer.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:23 PM ^
We were in on both Smith and Aiken from Harvard, pretty clear in retrospect that DDJ had already discussed transferring with the coaches, or the coaches had a strong inkling even without DDJ having said it directly to them.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:24 PM ^
Gotta be DDJ first, right? I would think Howard would've rather had 2 more years of DDJ over Smith for a year. But who knows...
April 10th, 2020 at 12:24 PM ^
I'd put money on the first. It's not a coincidence that Smith commits the day after Aiken commits elsewhere. I think he's a really good 3rd guard option and backup PG for 15 MPG, but he's a step behind Aiken and DDJ for sure.
DDJ wanted starter minutes. Juwan could not promise that, especially with Christopher potentially coming in. DDJ knew Christopher is the better player and at the very least plays 25 minutes a game.
I suspect DDJ would have gotten starters type minutes even with Christopher and Eli on the team.
I would be interested in knowing from some of our hoops experts how DDJs game compares to Smith’s.
Losing DDJ to me seems like a bad thing given his two year potential growth.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:14 PM ^
I especially like the assist numbers, better than some of the options who were originally in the mix as possible transfers.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:06 PM ^
LETS GO BOYS
April 10th, 2020 at 12:27 PM ^
ferda, boys!
April 10th, 2020 at 12:06 PM ^
Listed at 5-11, but with the hair plays at 6-3.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^
All Hair Team is back
Hate to say it (especially since I do -- see what I did there -- appreciate the Fletch reference), but I think the 5'11" might be taking into account the hair. Kid can ball, though.
Worked for Rickey Green.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:23 PM ^
Looks a lot like Zavier Simpson on the offensive end going to the basket.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:39 PM ^
But with less blocked shots?
April 10th, 2020 at 12:40 PM ^
Yeah I was gonna say the same. His body control and approach to going to the rim are pretty similar to Simpson. Smith is definitely more aggressive though
April 10th, 2020 at 12:50 PM ^
But with a better jump shot
There is only 1 thing I know about this kid for sure. He will make a higher percentage of free throws than Z.
I wanted to check on how their 3 shooting compared. They shot a similar percentage but Simpson took 80 3's and Smith took 180 3's. Smith had monster usage on a bad Columbia team at 34%. He had the 14th highest usage in all of college basketball. Of those top 14 he played the most minutes and had the 9th highest otrg.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:13 PM ^
Sweet Sassy Molassey
April 10th, 2020 at 12:14 PM ^
Smith or Brooks and Christopher should be a decent backcourt.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:16 PM ^
Adding Christopher, rumor has it next years team might be talented...
April 10th, 2020 at 12:50 PM ^
I hope we get a chance to find out. If there's no football, I don't see how there would be any basketball.
Easy, players get tested before every game (we will have tons of quick test kits by then). All spectators wear mask. Deep clean the arena before every game.
Could even play without fans.
We have to get back to living our lives, man!
April 10th, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^
Does this all but confirm that Castelton and DDJ were both forced out of the program? This is a legit question...
April 10th, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
If Juwan is forcing out players, wouldn't Nunez be the guy he gets rid of first?
April 10th, 2020 at 12:25 PM ^
Good point
April 10th, 2020 at 12:26 PM ^
There's no reason we would've taken Smith over DDJ in my opinion. I mean, Smith could very well be an upgrade, but I think everyone would've preferred to keep DDJ and his 2 remaining years of eligibility.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:27 PM ^
Not at all. Adding Smith is a response to DDJ leaving IMO, since pretty much any team would prefer two years of DDJ to one year of Smith. And Castleton was a rising junior who played double digits B1G minutes once in his career, was third on the depth chart without considering small ball 5 options like Johns and Todd, and he's from Florida originally. That transfer is one we'd see in pretty much any healthy program.
Sam Webb has been repeatedly saying that you have to recruit with attrition in mind these days. I have no doubt that Juwan has had conversations with all the players about their futures and had an idea that CC and DDJ were thinking about leaving. That may be why Davis got his fifth year
No.
As someone else said, if JH was forcing people out, there is another player that would've been out first. He's not forcing out a guard with two years left who played good minutes and is local (and risk pissing off local coaches). He's not forcing out a young big when UM only has two true post players for next year.
DDJ likely left bc he thinks he should have a bigger role. Smith is his replacement.
DDJ would have gotten plenty of starter minutes. I guess he would rather play at a CMU and play alot more. He is a good player and am sorry to see him go because he has more in him.
DDJ is a lock to go to another power 5 school!
April 10th, 2020 at 12:19 PM ^
Anyone have insight on why UM is a good fit for Smith but not DeJulius? They seem like similar talents.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:26 PM ^
I can only guess that DeJulius wants to go somewhere where he can be a main scorer / go to guy.
Smith wants to go to a team that can win.
I'm assuming that DDJ started this whole thing, but who knows.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:37 PM ^
This is my takeaway as well. Given our likely roster, absolute best case is that DeJulius is the 4th guy. If you have NBA dreams, that's not really getting the opportunity to prove it (unless you already have notoriety and NBA measurables like Todd). A Nunez or Davis who is fine with whatever playing time and opportunity they get is more of a fit for a roster with Christopher, Livers, Wagner, and Todd sucking up most of the usage. For Smith, this is a chance to prove himself as a solid player at the highest level of college basketball, but I doubt he sees himself as an NBA player like I suspect DeJulius does.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:58 PM ^
DDJ sees his path to the NBA as a Carsen Edwards type. He has to be his teams first and last scoring option on every possession. Thats his ticket. I question some of the advice he's getting though because by transferring he's taking a chance on sitting out. You cant rely on the NCAA when it comes to your future and even though he has multiple years of eligibility left, the team you transfer to could be completely different after you sit out a year.
I would agree with everything you said except of your point about Smith seeing himself as an NBA player. Guys that transfer up do so to prove they can hang with the high major guys and get the exposure that comes from in terms of NBA eyes on them. Its similar to a guy doing prep year in high school to get noticed more because they see themselves as a D1 player but just not getting the attention.
April 10th, 2020 at 12:42 PM ^
Honestly Michigan is kinda an ideal spot for Smith. Can go to a good grad school, has an opportunity to be on a really good team and also have a defined role where he won't have to be 34% usage like at Columbia
I think Smith understands what DDJ is soon going to learn..being the #1 option on a weak team is not that fun.