Michigan Wolverines basketball head coach Juwan Howard recently signed the nation's No. 1 recruiting class in 2021, inking six highly-rated players, including lead guard Frankie Collins out of Nevada. Now, he and his staff can shift their focus a bit to the 2022 cycle, where landing another point guard will be key.
Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI four-star Dug McDaniel is among the highly-touted prep junior prospects Howard and Co. are after. At 5-10, 155 pounds, McDaniel is known for his playmaking ability as an unselfish passer. The No. 46 overall player in the country has been working to improve his skills as a scorer over the offseason, with his high school team slated to tip off the season in January.
"I’ve really worked on my scoring ability since last year," McDaniel said. "I have to step up and do more of a scoring role, so I’m gonna try to combine my passing ability with my scoring ability and just be a complete, overall, all-around player.
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"I’m more of a pass-first guard, but I can also score the ball when I want. But I like to see my teammates get more involved. I’d rather have 10 [points] and 10 [assists] than 30 and five. I’d rather have my teammate have 20 than me have 20.
"I’m that type of player — I like to get everyone involved, while also getting mine at the same time. Just trying to get that team win. I’m not all about scoring the ball; I like to see my teammates score the ball."
The teams McDaniel is the most interested in are Florida, Georgetown, LSU, Michigan and VCU. The Wolverines have stayed in constant contact since Sept. 1, when coaching staffs were allowed to begin reaching out to 2022 recruits. Howard and associate head coach Phil Martelli are tag-teaming the effort.
"I’m on the phone with them very often, at least twice very two weeks, or something like that," McDaniel said. "They just check in to let me know I’m still their priority and I’m still on the top of their list. Just always checking in, keeping in touch."
Martelli is a legend on the East Coast, having been the head coach at St. Joseph's for 24 years, where he built incredible relationships. McDaniel believes he has an uncanny ability to connect with players in the area.
"I think he’s very understanding since he’s very aware of the area," McDaniel said. "I think he understands our situation and our circumstances, and I feel like he’s a very relatable person to talk to. That’s always a good thing — to know that when you’re talking, nobody’s zoning out and he actually understands what you’re saying."
