Following its opening on Monday morning, Michigan star point guard Dug McDaniel entered the transfer portal. Sources tell Hitmen Hoops that Memphis is expected to show strong interest in McDaniel.
Who is McDaniel as a player, and which other schools have shown interest in obtaining his services?
Dug McDaniel as a Player
Dug McDaniel is coming off a breakout sophomore season for the Michigan Wolverines. The 5’11 guard averaged 16.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 41.6% from the field, 37.9% from three, and 77.4% from the line. He was the leading scorer on a Michigan team that went 8-24 on the season.
McDaniel is one of the fastest players in the nation. He uses his speed, shiftiness, and tight handle to beat defenders off the dribble. His quickness and burst allow him to create space on the ball, and he has improved significantly as a perimeter shooter to emerge as one of the nation’s premier shot-creators.
Despite his size and lack of vertical athleticism, McDaniel possesses a soft touch and a versatile finishing arsenal around the rim. He is a good finisher with both hands and loves to score in the paint with his floater.
McDaniel is a strong passer, as shown by his 27.2 assist percentage and near 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. The former Wolverine point guard has a strong feel for the game and can use his speed and quickness to find openings for passing lanes. He can consistently find the open teammate but also has good vision and can fire passes into tight windows.
McDaniel’s frame (5’11, 175 pounds) limits him as a defender. He gets beat off the dribble frequently and is often bullied by bigger players on the defensive end. However, he does use his quickness to his advantage, getting into passing lanes and collecting 1.1 steals per game. He has also shown sporadic flashes of being a pest defensively. He can use his speed to get around screens and bother opposing point guards.
McDaniel’s Recruitment
Dug McDaniel’s recruitment is still in its early stages, as he just entered the transfer portal. However, this has been a move that has been expected around the college basketball world for quite some time. Coaching staffs around the country have been having back-channel conversations with McDaniel’s camp for weeks as rumors about his interest in leaving the Michigan program became known.
The Tigers have the ability to offer McDaniel significant money after Jahvon Quinerly’s departure at the guard position. Having played for Paul VI (Chantilly, Virginia) in high school, expect local college programs to play a significant factor in his recruitment.
Other Schools and Factors Involved
Sources informed Hitmen Hoops to look out for programs like Georgetown and Maryland, both of which are proximate to McDaniel’s hometown of Washington, D.C. Both schools have been involved behind the scenes for a substantial period. Georgetown will also be a big player financially, reportedly having one of the biggest NIL budgets in the country this off-season.
An additional factor in this recruitment will be Judah Mintz. Many insiders expect the Syracuse guard to enter the transfer portal while testing the NBA waters. Mintz is an elite talent and will likely command significant NIL money this off-season. Like McDaniel, Mintz is a Washington, D.C. native with local programs like Georgetown and Maryland looking at him. If one of these programs were to earn Mintz’s commitment (assuming he enters the portal as expected), it would eliminate a big competitor for Memphis and its ability to land McDaniel’s services.
While this recruitment is just getting started, it is great for Tigers fans to hear that Penny Hardaway and company have positioned themselves out in front for one of the best players in the transfer portal.
