Michigan Basketball: 3 Breakout candidates for Wolverines in 2020-21
The giant
Hunter Dickinson is a massive human being. Standing at somewhere north of 7-feet, Hunter is going to be a problem in the Big Ten as a rebounder, staunch paint defender, and a low post scorer.
Juwan has found the clay in Hunter, and by seasons end, the sculpture will be on full display. Dickinson will reach new heights in year one as Howard’s protege.
Here’s why:
The rankings and evaluations
247 sports lists Hunter as the 40th best basketball player in the country, the eighth-best center, and No. 2 in the state of Maryland for the 2020 class.
"Big body who can occupy space. Not an explosive athlete. Good basketball IQ and positional defender and rebounder. Effective in the high/low game. Knows how to seal his man and can also deliver a pass from the high post. Has reliable jump hook with his dominant left hand. Can make a face-up midrange shot. Should end up being a second-round draft choice."
Rivals has Hunter at 37th nationally and 5th positionally.
ESPN ranks Dickinson 8th positionally and 38th nationally with the following scouting report ($):
"Strengths: Dickinson is a talented and emerging post prospect. The southpaw has great size, a sturdy frame, and an advanced interior skill set at this early stage. He posts strong to provide a big target on the block, has soft touch, good dexterity around the rim, and an established hook over his right shoulder. He also has a quickly emerging passing instinct that should eventually allow him to be able to play off the elbows and extend his game away from the rim. He runs fairly well and, unlike most young big men, seems comfortable in his own skin. He doesn’t back down from older players or high level competition, doesn’t appear to mind contact, doesn’t show any hesitation or timidness, and competes on the glass. Weaknesses: He plays a little bit of an outdated style as a throwback style low post player and needs to continue to extend his game away from the basket and diversifying his offensive game, without sacrificing his efficiency. While he is young enough that he is likely still growing into his body, he’s not overly agile or athletic at this standpoint, and maybe even a little stiff in his upper body. If he evolves into a rim protector it will be based on positioning and sheer size more so than quick bounce. Defensively, he also lacks the lateral quickness to step away from the basket and move his feet, whether that’s to guard ball-screens or more mobile bigs. Bottom Line: He’s a seven-foot lefty who is naturally talented and far ahead of the curve, but with the way the game has evolved he’ll need to continue to extend his game away from the basket on both ends of the floor in the coming years."
Matt’s musings
When Juwan Howard announced Austin Davis would be back for another year, it sent a message that while Hunter is an outstanding high school athlete, he needed to step it up if he wants to start from day one with Michigan basketball.
I don’t see him as a starter from the jump; however, I do believe he will get the nod early on and will become a breakout star with ten plus points-per-game and double-digit rebounds.