Michigan Basketball: Updates on Youssef Khayat and Naz Hillmon

Future Michigan basketball player Youssef Khayat was on the floor recently for Lebanon and we check in on him, as well as Naz Hillmon in the WNBA. 

Before long, the Michigan basketball team is going to be making a trip to Europe to take part in some exhibition games in Greece and France.

The trip was announced earlier this summer and should be a great opportunity for the Wolverines to grow as individuals, and as a team.

Michigan basketball will be relying on a number of younger players this season such as Kobe Bufkin, Isaiah Barnes, Will Tschetter, Jett Howard, and more, and this will give them a great chance to play against some professional players overseas.

One player who likely won’t be on the trip but will be on the Michigan basketball team next season is Lebanon’s Youssef Khayat. Khayat was recruited by Juwan Howard and chose Michigan recently as his college of choice over Xavier, Wake Forest, and Depaul.

Khayat was playing professionally in Europe but isn’t as polished as someone like Franz Wagner. However, he’s good enough to eventually make the NBA and he’ll have freshman eligibility this season.

While Khayat is a stellar defender, he’s known for shooting the ball well too, and scored 15 points in Lebanon’s win over India. His team has gone 3-0 so far in the Asia Cup and has now reached the quarterfinals.

There’s no reason to overreact but it’s still good to see Khayat being productive. I don’t know that he will start right away in Ann Arbor, but he’s going to play a key role next season, especially on the defensive end of the floor and with his ability to shoot from 3-point range.

Naz Hillmon nets first double-double

Speaking of Michigan basketball players — the best women’s basketball player in the history of Michigan, Naz Hillmon, is holding her own in the WNBA.

She was drafted by Atlanta and even though she hasn’t locked down a starting role or anything, she recently scored 13 points and grabbed 11 boards for her first ever double-double in the league.

The former Wolverine has seen action in 22 games this season and has scored in double figures twice. She averages 3.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Hillmon also shoots 49 percent from the field and 50 percent on 2-point shots so far.