Summer Ball

For the University of Michigan Men's Basketball Team, having a lack players in the NBA has become somewhat of a punchline in recent years. Not since 2004 has the program had a player taken in the draft (Bernard Robinson Jr., 45th Pick by Charlotte). Although there hasn't been many players taken in the draft, a few of the Wolverines' former players are still hard at work on the court trying to earn invites to training camp through the NBA's Summer League.

The 2008 Summer League has been noticeably full of Wolverines this season, with 4 former players all working out with different teams. Brent "Air Georgia" Petway (Grizzlies), Robert "Tractor" Traylor (Cavaliers), Courtney Sims (Hornets), and Bernard Robinson Jr. (Portland) are all looking for a chance to show their teams that they have what it takes to earn a spot on their twelve-man roster come November 1. None of these players have received any playing time through the first round of games, even though a guy like Sims was on a NBA roster last season (In Sims' case, he received only garbage minutes with the Pacers at the end of games very early on in the season. I guess you could say the double team is still a problem for him).

Oddly enough, many of the scouting reports have Petway listed as the candidate most likely to stick with a team throughout training camp. Petway, who is most remembered for his highlight dunks and artistic expression through the designs shaved into his head, was often seen as a symbol of everything wrong with the Amaker Era: A kid with a lot of potential and athletic ability, but lacking the discipline and focus to steadily improve his game. He has reportedly added a consistent 15 foot jumper to his game and shown much improvement with his rebounding skills.

Having one of these guys make an NBA roster is just the kind of exposure this Wolverine team needs right now. The NBA is quickly becoming the 2nd most popular sport in the world, and viewer-ship has never been higher. While guys like Lute Olson have openly admitted to shying away from recruiting "one-and-done" high school players (former AZ recruit Brandon Jennings spurned the Wildcats for big money overseas), having one of these guys in Maize and Blue for a year (and subsequently jumping to the NBA) would not only draw interest from national media, but it would also generate interest from kids trying to select the best school to develop their game. Yes, there is the question about Michigan's academic standards. And Yes, Whether a player like this would ever appeal to John Beilein remains to be seen. But the bottom line is that Michigan Basketball is in desperate need of a shot in the arm when it comes to generating interest, and these are the types of things that could provide it.