Michigan held its second College Practice Camp of the Year Saturday, and there were a handful who stood out, led by reclassified 2019 to ’18 pledge Taylor Currie.
Currie is rail thin, but he never stops. He’s extremely active, has great touch and a quick release on a floater near the rim and knows where to be on the court. He was very good going head to head with Quinn Slazinski, a 2019 out of Texas, now at Huntington (W.V.) Prep.
Currie got the better of the matchup. He can put it on the floor a bit … his best move was a strong drive and finish with a half hook from four feet out, but he also canned a triple, was active around the rim for a few putbacks and had a few nice spin moves. He made a few, missed one or two, as well, but you can see the potential.
The 6-9 standout is like the Energizer bunny. He has a lot of energy and plays with an edge despite being so skinny. It was on display in a tough, head-to-head matchup against Grand Rapids (Mich.) Catholic Central’s Jacob Polakovich, who earned a preferred walk-on offer from head coach John Beilein during team camp last month.
This was the match-up of the night. Polakovich did a ton of damage inside, using his brute strength to finish around the rim. The 6-8, 17-year-old senior (he’s young for his grade) was playing on tired legs, having played a number of camps over the last several days, but he played his butt off, like he always does. He’s not especially quick, and he had trouble guarding Currie when Currie put it on the floor, but he was just as tough to guard on the other end.
Currie hit a couple jumpers … Polakovich countered with some tough moves inside. He can also step out and shoot it, which he showed in drills. Polakovich was on the floor diving for loose balls in both games and played well in both, finishing with about 36 between the two. He and Currie got into it during their match-up, exchanging words and elbows, but they gave each other a bro hug after Currie’s team pulled out a five-point win, a show of respect after a great battle.
Both players are gamers who played better than they showed in drills (though they weren’t bad). Beilein appeared a bit miffed when Currie didn’t attack the basket during the 1-on-1, King of the Hill drill against a kid who looked like Chris Farley’s younger brother (to his credit, the kid played his butt off). He addressed it after the competition in saying to the group, “you might not like it because you don’t like to lose, but you always need to try to do things you don’t like in order to improve.”
Polakovich met with Beilein after the game. He’ll likely be back on campus this fall for a visit weekend, and though he didn’t star in the drills, again, he was a load during the games.
As for Slazanski … there’s some potential there. He’s got a potent spin move and can do some things at 6-7 that some can’t. He didn’t finish well, though, missing everything on a couple of drives, but he was aggressive and did finish one of his spin moves. He has nice touch from outside and hit a few jumpers, too.
The 200-pound three-star probably didn’t earn an offer, but he’s one to watch closely. Currie got the better of their match-up, scoring 20 or so to Slazinski’s 13.
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One of the big time surprises … Detroit Renaissance guard Chandler Turner. Turner probably made 70 percent of his shots in the two games and was outstanding in the King of the Hill drill, too. He’s got a funky looking stroke, pulling it behind his head a bit, but he hit three triples in his second game from extra long range that had people asking who he was.
Turner is thin, and he needs work on his handle, but he’s only 16, a 2019 prospect. He faded away a few times, and though he didn’t get to the rim a whole lot (much to his father’s chagrin), the kid can flat out shoot it. Asked if his son always shot it that well, his dad (Charles) said, ‘yeah, but I keep trying to get him to go to the basket! (as in, ‘don’t encourage him’). This is a good kid from what appeared to be a tight-knit family, and his best days are ahead of him.
He holds offers from Northern Illinois and Cleveland State already, but didn’t start playing AAU ball until halfway through the summer. He’ll earn more. He’s about 6-6 but skinny and will improve as he fills out.
Turner Highlights:
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A few to watch, including one we haven’t identified … a Danish wing, first name Lucas, who Beilein stopped during King of the Hill drills to ask his name. We’ll get more info on the kid, but he is 6-7, an outstanding finisher who can shoot it, too.
We’ll find out more about him in the days to come.
George Tinsley of Abington Heights High in Clarks Summit, Pa. is one to watch. The 6-5, 195-pounder can flat out shoot the ball, and though he’s not explosive with the ball, he can score it. He’s a multi-sport athlete, too … deadly jump shot. He barely missed.
Tinsley Highlights:
Finally, Jackson Selvala of New Canaan (Conn.) St. Luke’s is a 6-7, pure shooter and a preferred walk-on candidate. Beilein likes his hoops IQ, his size and his shot … he invited him back this fall. He comes from a family of Michigan grads, so he’ll likely oblige.
Selvala Highlights:
Currie is rail thin, but he never stops. He’s extremely active, has great touch and a quick release on a floater near the rim and knows where to be on the court. He was very good going head to head with Quinn Slazinski, a 2019 out of Texas, now at Huntington (W.V.) Prep.
Currie got the better of the matchup. He can put it on the floor a bit … his best move was a strong drive and finish with a half hook from four feet out, but he also canned a triple, was active around the rim for a few putbacks and had a few nice spin moves. He made a few, missed one or two, as well, but you can see the potential.
The 6-9 standout is like the Energizer bunny. He has a lot of energy and plays with an edge despite being so skinny. It was on display in a tough, head-to-head matchup against Grand Rapids (Mich.) Catholic Central’s Jacob Polakovich, who earned a preferred walk-on offer from head coach John Beilein during team camp last month.
This was the match-up of the night. Polakovich did a ton of damage inside, using his brute strength to finish around the rim. The 6-8, 17-year-old senior (he’s young for his grade) was playing on tired legs, having played a number of camps over the last several days, but he played his butt off, like he always does. He’s not especially quick, and he had trouble guarding Currie when Currie put it on the floor, but he was just as tough to guard on the other end.
Currie hit a couple jumpers … Polakovich countered with some tough moves inside. He can also step out and shoot it, which he showed in drills. Polakovich was on the floor diving for loose balls in both games and played well in both, finishing with about 36 between the two. He and Currie got into it during their match-up, exchanging words and elbows, but they gave each other a bro hug after Currie’s team pulled out a five-point win, a show of respect after a great battle.
Both players are gamers who played better than they showed in drills (though they weren’t bad). Beilein appeared a bit miffed when Currie didn’t attack the basket during the 1-on-1, King of the Hill drill against a kid who looked like Chris Farley’s younger brother (to his credit, the kid played his butt off). He addressed it after the competition in saying to the group, “you might not like it because you don’t like to lose, but you always need to try to do things you don’t like in order to improve.”
Polakovich met with Beilein after the game. He’ll likely be back on campus this fall for a visit weekend, and though he didn’t star in the drills, again, he was a load during the games.
As for Slazanski … there’s some potential there. He’s got a potent spin move and can do some things at 6-7 that some can’t. He didn’t finish well, though, missing everything on a couple of drives, but he was aggressive and did finish one of his spin moves. He has nice touch from outside and hit a few jumpers, too.
The 200-pound three-star probably didn’t earn an offer, but he’s one to watch closely. Currie got the better of their match-up, scoring 20 or so to Slazinski’s 13.
****
One of the big time surprises … Detroit Renaissance guard Chandler Turner. Turner probably made 70 percent of his shots in the two games and was outstanding in the King of the Hill drill, too. He’s got a funky looking stroke, pulling it behind his head a bit, but he hit three triples in his second game from extra long range that had people asking who he was.
Turner is thin, and he needs work on his handle, but he’s only 16, a 2019 prospect. He faded away a few times, and though he didn’t get to the rim a whole lot (much to his father’s chagrin), the kid can flat out shoot it. Asked if his son always shot it that well, his dad (Charles) said, ‘yeah, but I keep trying to get him to go to the basket! (as in, ‘don’t encourage him’). This is a good kid from what appeared to be a tight-knit family, and his best days are ahead of him.
He holds offers from Northern Illinois and Cleveland State already, but didn’t start playing AAU ball until halfway through the summer. He’ll earn more. He’s about 6-6 but skinny and will improve as he fills out.
Turner Highlights:
****
A few to watch, including one we haven’t identified … a Danish wing, first name Lucas, who Beilein stopped during King of the Hill drills to ask his name. We’ll get more info on the kid, but he is 6-7, an outstanding finisher who can shoot it, too.
We’ll find out more about him in the days to come.
George Tinsley of Abington Heights High in Clarks Summit, Pa. is one to watch. The 6-5, 195-pounder can flat out shoot the ball, and though he’s not explosive with the ball, he can score it. He’s a multi-sport athlete, too … deadly jump shot. He barely missed.
Tinsley Highlights:
Finally, Jackson Selvala of New Canaan (Conn.) St. Luke’s is a 6-7, pure shooter and a preferred walk-on candidate. Beilein likes his hoops IQ, his size and his shot … he invited him back this fall. He comes from a family of Michigan grads, so he’ll likely oblige.
Selvala Highlights:
