Michigan Basketball: Ranking the top 10 Wolverines since 2010

#3: Nik Stauskas

My first memory of Nik Stauskas was watching his YouTube videos of him shooting in his driveway up in Canada before he came to Michigan. He was known as a sharpshooter and during much of his freshman season, that’s pretty much all he was.

But what he did his sophomore season was truly remarkable. Nik Stauskas’ sophomore season is the second best season any Michigan basketball player has had since 2010 in my opinion. During that 2013-14 season, Stauskas was first-team All-Big Ten, conference player of the year, and a consensus second-team All-American.

Despite running the offense and being Michigan’s highest usage offensive player, Nik Stauskas actually raised his field goal and three point percentage from his freshman to sophomore season.

Higher usage and higher shooting percentages are a rare combination and it’s why he was such a special player in year two.

Nik started every game that breakout season and helped lead Michigan to the Elite Eight where they lost on a buzzer beater to Kentucky. Stauskas was as fun to watch as any player in the Beilein era. The sharpshooting, cockiness, and in your face style of play was a fascinating combination to watch.

My favorite Nik Stauskas moment has to be when he hit the step back game winning three against Wisconsin on the road. This is one of those shots that I will never forget and one that really shows how special of a player he was. You can find that video below.