Michigan Basketball: 6 prospects Wolverines are targeting in 2022
By Max S.
Dug McDaniel
School: Paul VI Catholic
Ranking: 65th overall (4-star)
Dug McDaniel is a really talented point guard prospect out of Virginia. He has a connection to two current Michigan basketball players. He played on Team Takeover with Hunter Dickinson and Terrance Williams.
Dug is also very familiar with Jett Howard. They played together in several camps growing up. While speaking to TheWolverine, Team Takeover coach Doug Martin talked about Dug’s style of play and how much he thinks familiarity will factor into his collage decision:
"“I think for each kid, it’s different,” Team Takeover coach Doug Martin said on how much that familiarity will weigh into McDaniel’s decision. “But for a kid like Dug, it kind of makes sense because Dug’s a pass-first point guard, a throwback; he’s going to excel with other really good players around him and some familiarity. So if he’s familiar with the guys, I think it’s easier for him to decide where he should go to school.”"
I would say that Michigan leads for McDaniel right now. Back in early August, two FutureCast predictions were made for McDaniel to go to Michigan. At that time, I was hearing similar buzz and thought that a commitment to Michigan was imminent.
Two months later, his recruitment has gotten quiet and there hasn’t been much buzz lately.
His ranking has steadily dropped over the last year according to Rivals. Back in January, he was ranked as the 29th overall recruit in 2022. He fell to 35th in August and then again to 46th a month later.
Don’t let this confuse you. This does not mean McDaniel isn’t good or can’t play. His ranking dropping has everything to do with his height. Dug McDaniel stands at only 5’9, and according to someone that I spoke to that has played with him, 5’9 is being generous.
Rankings have more to do with projections, size, and NBA potential and less to do with how good a player really is. The fact is, being 5’9 hurts McDaniel’s ranking, but it hasn’t hurt his production on the basketball court.
As of now, Michigan, Georgetown, Wake Forest, and George Washington remain heavily involved in his recruitment. I wouldn’t be surprised if Michigan wins this recruiting battle sooner rather than later and McDaniel becomes another DMV area recruit to come to Ann Arbor.