Glenn Robinson III Big Tens highest rated 2012 signee
Michigan's four-man class of 2012 haul will likely be among the nation's top five when Rivals.com releases its final team rankings April 13, boasting two signees in the top 30 and three in the top 100. The Wolverines are in good shape for the foreseeable future, analyst Eric Bossi says …
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St. John (Ind.) Lake Central's Glenn Robinson III (6-7) and Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy's Mitch McGary (6-11, 263) essentially switched spots in the recently updated rankings. Robinson moved from No. 34 overall to No. 11 (five stars), while McGary slipped from No. 3 to No. 30 (four stars).
"Coming out of the summer after we did the rankings, we thought we maybe underrated Glenn then," Bossi said. "Then we had a chance to see him play a couple times this winter, and I thought he was fantastic with his size, athleticism and overall skill level. He's still a little hot and cold as a shooter, but the mechanics are there. He has the package that he can be really good.
"Sometimes you decide to take a chance and go with your gut on a kid when you're ranking him. My gut tells me he's going to be tremendous. With his size and overall skill at that position … you don't see lot of wings in college that have as broad a base with that skill level."
Bossi sees Robinson as a "pure wing" at the next level, though there's always a chance he could play some four should head coach John Beilein decide to play small on occasion. Robinson was the Duneland Conference Player of the Year after averaging 21.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game despite being double and triple teamed much of the season.
Dropping McGary following an AAU season in which he dominated the competition was tough, Bossi said, but warranted. McGary had a solid year, finishing as a NEPSAC honorable mention selection for a loaded Brewster team that only lost one game all year.
"It was a mixture of things," Bossi said of dropping McGary. "Just like we thought Glenn was underrated, Mitch might have been over-ranked a little. We didn't want to snap and react too badly [to his year], but his play in comparison to some of his teammates - we just think that's where he should be ranked.
"The key with Mitch was trying to find the player we saw in summer that caused us to jump him so high and reconcile that with what we saw in the winter, when he had struggles and not near the same productivity level. The league he plays in isn't a regular high school league. He's a little old for a '12 and in a prep school situation, he's matched up with guys who match him age-wise. He didn't have the same physical advantage he had in the summer."
Another NEPSAC product, Southborough (Mass.) St. Mark's standout shooting guard and signee Nick Stauskas (6-6, 210), earned first team all-conference honors for the Class AA champions. Stauskas rose from No. 79 to No. 71 and showed off his ever-improving (and already impressive) skill set.
"I saw him a few times this winter, and I just think he's got the overall polish to his game and a confidence that's tough to deny," Bossi said. "He's another big wing who can play shooting guard or small forward. He has range. He's probably the kind of kid - and I mean this in the most complimentary way possible - who looks at the rankings and wonders how there are 70 kids ranked ahead of him. That's his approach and his take on things, and I like that."
Stauskas is an outstanding shooter and underrated when it comes to scoring off the dribble.
"I definitely think he's a top shelf shooter in that class," Bossi said. "He's among the upper crust of shooters."
Finally, Northfield (Mass.) Mt. Hermon point guard Spike Albrecht (6-1), formerly of Crown Point (Ind.) in the Duneland Conference where McGary also spent time at Chesterton, signed Wednesday morning to complete the class. The three-star is good friends with both McGary and Robinson and received texts from both while on his visit.
"He's a guy that is intriguing," Bossi said of the three-star prospect. "I wish I'd gotten to see him play a few more times. He's crafty, tough as nails and has a good feel for the position. He shoots well enough that he can play the one or two depending on lineups. He has that versatility."
He's a winner, too, having led Mt. Hermon to a huge upset of Brewster in the NEPSAC AAA semifinals on the way to a AAA title. He'll get his feet wet this year playing behind Trey Burke, this year's Big Ten co-Freshman of the Year.