Caris LeVert, SG, 6’7″ 185 lbs., Michigan, Junior
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
LeVert, who grew up in Pickerington, Ohio, was not a highly touted recruit. He had offers from Xavier, Purdue and Dayton, before signing with Michigan. I had the honor of watching LeVert beat down on my alma mater year after year, but I never knew he was going to be this good.
After a freshman campaign where he saw little playing time, LeVert burst into the spotlight his sophomore year. LeVert averaged 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game as the third scoring option on his team. He also shot 43.9 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.
LeVert has a unique blend of athleticism and shooting touch, which is why he is one of the most diverse players in the country. His skill-set has been compared to Jamal Crawford, among others, garnering him high expectations for the 2014 season. LeVert will be asked to do more on the offensive end because of the departures of Nik Stauskas and Glen Robinson, so it will be interesting to see how he plays without them. CBS Sports ranked LeVert as the eighth best NBA prospect, which means drafting him is a long shot.
All in all, LeVert is a person who has been through it all, on and off the court. Although I am a huge Ohio State fan, I can’t not root for a guy that has worked as hard as LeVert. Pat Riley can only dream of getting his hands on such an intriguing player.