The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1518781
56 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2024 ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS dream, and working hard every single day because you never know when someone's watching," Simpson added. "The G League season prepares you for the physical and emotional aspects of the game and develops the habits that keep you ready for an opportunity like this so that when you get called up, it's not as big of an adjustment. "This is just another step in my ca- reer, and I want to make more steps after this. For me, it's not time to be satisfied because I want to find a home in the NBA, but until then I'm just taking it day by day trying to become the best individual professional I can be." FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NBA Through April 7 • Kobe Bufkin (Played at U-M from 2021-23), G, Atlanta Hawks: Made his return to the floor April 1 after missing nearly an entire month with a toe in- jury … Appeared in 13 games off the bench for the 36-42 Hawks, producing 4.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 11.2 minutes. • Moussa Diabate (2021-22), F, Los Angeles Clippers: Hasn't played in the NBA since March 1, instead spending time with the Ontario Clippers of the G League … Played in 11 contests for the 50- 28 Clippers, recording 29 points, 24 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists and 1 block in 64 minutes. • Tim Hardaway Jr., (2010-13), G, Dallas Maver- icks: Started 10 of 75 games for the 48-30 Maver- icks, registering 14.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per outing, while connecting on 40.3 per- cent of his shots from the field and 35.7 percent of his three-point tries. • Caleb Houstan (2021-22), G, Orlando Magic: Averaging 4.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 14.1 min- utes per game in 56 appearances with 12 starts for the 46-32 Magic … Shooting 39.5 percent overall and 38.0 percent from three-point distance with 1.3 made triples per night. • Jett Howard (2022-23), G, Orlando Magic: Played in one game in March and one so far in April, heading back and forth between the Magic and its G League affiliate in Osceola, Fla. … Logged 15 appearances, totaling 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in 53 minutes. • Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Cleveland Cavaliers: Tallying 13.9 points, 5.1 assists and 4.1 boards per game in 66 appearances with 10 starts for the 46-33 Cavaliers … Shooting 41.9 percent from the field with a 32.2 percent clip on three-pointers. • Isaiah Livers (2017-21), F, Washington Wiz- ards: Traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Wiz- ards in mid-January but hasn't appeared in a game for his new franchise, having been ruled out for the regular season with a hip injury … The Wizards are 15-64 and eliminated from playoff contention. • Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, Washington Wizards: Posting 17.3 points, 4.4 assists and 2.7 rebounds per tilt in 77 contests with 65 starts … Connecting on 41.3 percent of his field goal attempts … His 32.5 three-point field goal percentage is his lowest in a season since his rookie campaign in 2019-20 (27.9). • Duncan Robinson (2013-17), F, Miami Heat: Missed five games for the 43-35 Heat in late March due to a back injury but returned March 31 … Aver- aging 12.9 points, a career-high 2.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds per outing, shooting 45.0 percent overall and 39.5 percent from three-point distance in 68 games with 36 starts. • Zavier Simpson (2016-20), G, Memphis Griz- zlies: Played in three games after signing a 10-day contract with the 27-51 Grizzlies, averaging 5.3 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 block in 24.0 minutes per contest. • Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic: Started all 70 games in which he's appeared, aver- aging career bests in points, rebounds and assists per tilt … Second on the team in scoring (19.6 points per game) and assists (3.8), and ranks third in rebounds (5.3). • Moritz Wagner (2015-17), F/C, Orlando Magic: Putting up 10.8 points (his highest mark since post- ing 11 in 2020-21), 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest … Shooting a career-high 59.6 percent from the field and making 33.0 percent of his three-point shot attempts. FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NHL: FIVE STARS OF THE MONTH Through April 7 • Matty Beniers (Played at U-M from 2020-22), F, Seattle Kraken: Has totaled 41 goals and 59 assists for the 32-31-13 Kraken … Put together a stretch with 4 goals and 2 assists over six games from March 26 to April 5, including registering the 100th point of his career, a landmark he reached in 161 outings. • Luke Hughes (2021-23), D, New Jersey Dev- ils: Currently on a seven-game point streak from March 24 to April 7, with 1 goal and 6 assists in that span for the 37-36-5 Devils … His 47 points (9 goals, 36 assists) are the third most by a rookie defenseman in a single season in franchise history. • Zach Hyman (2012-15), C, Edmonton Oilers: Has contributed 21 assists for 73 points in 75 appear- ances for the 47-24-5 Oilers … The Athletic's Daniel Nugent-Bowman named him the "most unlikely 50-goal scorer ever," highlighting his "relentless work ethic" and that his previous career best was 21 (in both 2019-19 and 2019-20) before signing with the Oilers in 2021 … The 31-year-old is just the 11th player that age or older to hit 50 goals in a season. • Quinn Hughes (2017-19), D, Vancouver Ca- nucks: The team captain is the overwhelming fa- vorite to win the Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top defensive player. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, he has -650 odds to take home the hardware, with the next-highest figure belong- ing to Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche … Is the second player in franchise history to reach 70 assists in a single season (Henrik Sedin) and third NHL defender in the salary-cap era to hit the milestone … Has also contributed 16 goals for the 47-22-8 Canucks. • Zach Werenski (2014-16), D, Columbus Blue Jackets: After missing nearly the entire 2022-23 campaign, has posted 9 goals and 43 assists in 66 games for the 26-40-12 Blue Jackets … Was nomi- nated for the Bill Masterton Trophy, presented to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey. ❏ Mike Danna • NFL The 26-year-old signed a three-year, $24 million contract to remain with the Kansas City Chiefs. Danna, who posted 6.5 sacks in 2023 and has 17 for his career, is entering his fifth season in the league. De'Veon Smith • UFL The Arlington Renegades running back scored a 3-yard touchdown in a 27-24 loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks April 6, after his older brother, Lance, passed away earlier in the week. "This game … I got a lot of emotion built up in it. I almost cried on the field," Smith said. "... I started playing football with him. He was the closest brother to me in age. We always played football, and I know he wouldn't have wanted it any other way, other than me being on the field and celebrating him." Ben Mason • NFL The Los Angeles Chargers signed Mason April 2. Mason played for new Chargers head man Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. He has spent his three professional seasons on practice squads for the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and Chicago Bears, after being selected by the Ravens in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. — Clayton Sayfie HEADLINERS Former Michigan athletes in the news this month