The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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NOVEMBER 2017 THE WOLVERINE 79 COMMITMENT PROFILE It's no secret that Michigan head coach John Beilein likes shooters. His teams make a living by spreading opponents out and giving his players room to operate off the dribble, with sharpshooters waiting in the wings (literally) for passes. Beilein added another to that ar- senal in Brooklyn (N.Y.) St. Thomas More post-grad shooting guard Adrien Nunez, who committed Oct. 2 following an outstanding Sept. 29 weekend visit. The 6-5, 190-pound three-star 's path to Ann Arbor was unique, to say the least. Nunez averaged around five points per game as a senior last year at Bishop Laughlin in New York City. He played out of position and never really got the attention he de- served, Rivals.com's Corey Evans re- ported, until the 11th hour. "It was literally the second to last day in July," Evans said. "He played at Bishop Laughlin, and the coach- ing staff there played him as a power forward. "He played next to a point guard that really isn't the most pass first point guard in the world, so he never was really a threat on offense." He still is what he is, Evans noted — a pure shooter who needs to work on the rest of his game — but what he does, he does so well. That was on display at the July AAU Hal Pastner Classic in Las Ve- gas. Most coaches, if not all, were there to see a loaded RM5 Elite team, but Nunez stole the show. "He just goes bonkers … 39 points and nine threes, and was the best guy there even though nobody was there just to see him," Evans recalled. "His jumper didn't look like a fluke, either. It looks legit. "He went from a couple Ivy League schools involved before that, teams like Fordham, Robert Morris, to coaches coming out of nowhere saying, 'Don't tell anyone about this kid.' The kid had grades — Ivy League grades — and from there, his stock just skyrocketed. He went from low major, at best, prospect to having Boston College, Penn State, VCU all over him, and some like Fordham tried to get him into school this fall." Beilein and UConn's Kevin Ollie were among those who went to see him in person, and they came away impressed. Penn State hosted him for a visit, but once U-M was involved, Nunez was smitten. Beilein saw him play during open gym at his school in the days before his visit, and the Michigan assistant coaches also saw him later. The weekend visit went very well, and Nunez had an idea going in that he'd commit if offered. "I liked Ann Arbor," Nunez said. "It really felt like a city, and I'm from the city … it was like I was right at home. That was a big part of it. "Also, I can see how they coached guys like Tim Hardaway. His pro- gression, what they did with him and can do with my progression … and they made me feel at home. "Everything — the whole playing style, shooting, cutting — all that stuff factored in." The coaches were straightforward and direct, he added, when it came to discussing his role. He saw all as- pects of the university on his trip, and it checked all the boxes. "It's one of the top public universi- ties in the country," he said. "They just won the Big Ten. The facilities are top of the line, and their playing style really fits mine. "It was just overall a great fit." The offense seems to be a perfect fit for him. "He's arguably the best shooter in the country," Evans said. "He's that good. This is a remarkable class al- ready, and when your 'worst' player is the best at what he does … "He is not Klay Thompson [of the Golden State Warriors], but he's in that mold … He's not as tall and more limited with his skill set, which is why he's not a more nationally known guy. "He's not a bad athlete. He's not a stiff dude. He can run, jump, has the body and the shoulders to fill out well. "I hear people say, 'He's not skilled enough.' When you have an elite trait like he does, you can work on things like strength and ball skills. Plus, he's a great, great kid who is very refreshing." He is just the latest under-the-radar recruit with the potential to do great things under Beilein. — Chris Balas Under-The-Radar Shooter Adrien Nunez Pledges To Michigan Nunez, who is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, saw his stock skyrocket this summer after he drained nine three-pointers and scored 39 points at an AAU event. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Adrien Nunez is a shooter first, second and third — one of the best in the country. He's got great range and can shoot off the dribble. He's also decently ath- letic, possesses a quick jumper and is able to finish around the rim with both hands. Areas Of Improvement: Nunez is limited off the bounce and won't break too many defenders down off the dribble. Though he has great range, he steps out too far, too of- ten, and sometimes needs to be reined in with shot selection. He also needs to add some strength. Michigan Player Comparison: Though a few inches taller and a bit more athletic, Nunez is reminiscent of Stu Douglass, one of head coach John Beilein's first recruits. He's got great range on his jump shot, and he appears to be an even better shooter. — Analysis from TheWolverine.com Rivals.com national analyst Corey Evans on Nunez "He's arguably the top shooter in America. He's that good. This is a remarkable class already, and when your 'worst' player is the best at what he does …"