U-M College Practice Camp: In-state Underclassmen

From a straight rankings perspective relative to class, the underclassman session of Michigan’s College Practice Camp had superior in-state talent than the afternoon run of older players. Here are some of those young standouts.

Sean Cobb  6-5  Fr  Williamston: He has a soft touch but more surprisingly for his age the footwork as well to comfortably shoot it from 18 even receiving the ball by various methods. It was the all-around skill level that gave Cobb the slight knod over 6-4 Terry Armstrong from Flint as the lone rising freshman to make this list. He made good decisions with the ball, passing from up top or on the break, and didn’t force shots; finished with feel and balance but can still get more powerful in there. Armstrong, Cobb and 6-8 Caleb Hodgson from Dansville gave U-M’s camp attendance from three of the state’s top five incoming ninth-graders.

Thomas Kithier  6-8  So  Macomb Dakota: Give him an inch or two, and Kithier could be playing for a scholarship offer at this camp a year from now.  His solid base gave him an advantage rooting out most of the other underclassmen, while still being agile enough to either get back or extend to challenge and block shots. He’s both a lane blocker and rim defender. An efficient scorer because he cuts strongly, has hands, keeps the ball high and keeps it going downhill. Kithier gave U-M two of the state’s top five 2018 prospects in attendance along with 6-5 Zavon Godwin from Roseville.

Pierre Mitchell  5-10  So  Detroit Loyola: He’s the type of player who always stands out in camp environment. PJ has the fundamental chops and competitive spirit to excel in drills, then he’s a positive force with the ball, a type O universal point guard who pushes it and gives energy to a disparate group. Has the speed, skill and vision you want for the position, able to push the ball and get into the lane to create or score. Shot will need to improve.

Skyline’s Brandon Wade is one of the state’s top rising sophomore point guards.

Brandon Wade  6-1  So  Ann Arbor Skyline: Local kid whose strong play from the AAU season carried over to June. Dangerous when he gets the defender on his shoulder to make point guard plays in the paint. An airball aside shot it well from three-point range. Sometimes he’d get caught too high, but overall liked how Wade was dialed in and aggressive defensively. He and another U-M camper, Jack Ammerman, give Skyline two of the state’s best point guards in the 2018 class.

Davion Williams  6-1  So  Belleville: He worked hard defensively while attacking when he had the ball. Both athletic and strong to go with aggressive and tuned in, and it’s easy to see how Williams did damage all day. Pulled the neat trick of keep the pressure on when he had the ball, while knowing when to slow down and pull it out. Top 10 sophomore in Michigan with top five potential as the shot improves.