DJ Wilson & Michigan

So there are a number of basketball fans out there who believe Michigan is too high a landing spot for Capital Christan and Team Superstar frontcourter DJ Wilson.

Well, take it for what such opinions are worth but John Beilein disagrees. Mark Few too. Add Kyle Smith to the mix. Even Bill Self (for the record, Wilson is currently ranked #4 in the Nor Cal Preps 2014 Boys Basketball Top 40 and #135 nationally by Rivals).

With some guys, coaches know what they are going to get. Shabazz Muhammad is a prime example as what he brought to UCLA was as expected. Playing hard but a limited skills set. NBA types didn't disagree on him either. There just isn't all that much room for his betterment so the likelihood of all-star status is minimal.

But with others, it's projected potential.

Here's a good example: out of the first six selections in the NBA draft, four were based primarily on potential as each had just completed his freshman year in college: #1 Anthony Bennett (to some degree), but especially #2 Victor Oladipo, #3 Otto Porter and #6 Nerlens Noel. We're talking raw, unfinished material offering visions of high ceilings.

Wilson is in the category of the latter group, albeit for college.

A sore back hampered him for some time but he came on and really impressed recruiters with his advancement this summer. There were periods of dominance.

College recruiters and analysts see someone very tall for a talent who can handle and shoot from outside. Being 6-foot-9 and mobile is the newish NBA want-to-have and such versatility -- even if potential -- is a desired commodity. If he adds consistently punishing defenders inside to the mix, Wilson will be demonstrating a build-a-team-around-him level of effectiveness. Also, the Michigan offensive style is one made for someone with Wilson's potential.

Granted, there are no guarantees in this business but there was a coterie of top level college coaches vying for Wilson's services. His choice of program also makes sense. This looks really promising.