The Interesting Choice ... Freshman Blake McLimans
8/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Sarah VanMetre, U-M Athletic Media Relations
Growing up, Blake McLimans did it all.
He was the lanky basketball player with the sweet shooting stroke. He was the volleyball star, cranking out kills. He was the untouchable righty pitcher on the mound. When you are good at everything and enjoying it, why make a choice to stop playing one of those sports
McLimans did not make a choice in high school, something that helped him end up at the University of Michigan. Which might seem a little odd, but it works.
With today's high stakes and very visible recruiting, AAU basketball might be the single most important activity that a potential college athlete participates in. Traveling the country, spending countless hours in a gym playing game after game in front of numerous coaches is what a typical July is like for a typical high school recruit.
Not so with McLimans.
"I never played AAU because I always played three sports," McLimans explained. "I was always going from one practice to another. There was never any time for me besides the sports I played for the school. I know that everyone plays, but I wanted to keep playing my other sports and to do that, I had to go to practice."
After leading Hamburg to two state volleyball titles in high school, it would have been easy to predict McLimans choice of sport to focus on and play at the next level. Or was it going to be baseball Especially after he continually hit 85-90 mph on the radar gun. Or would it be the making long-range jumpers on the hardwood
That is how his basketball story is different than most, McLimans made that different choice.
"I have always loved basketball above everything else," McLimans explained of his decision to stick with basketball. "Baseball was always up there, but basketball is my real passion."
The problem then arose of how McLimans would be able to get his name out there. While everyone else he was playing with and against, both on the floor and in the recruiting game, had been playing AAU basketball for years,a veteran of all of one AAU tournament and two camps, McLimans faced a dilemma about entering the college basketball world.
With his limited visibility from playing for his high school team, McLimans could have taken a smaller school offer. But that was not what he had in mind.
"I wanted big time exposure," McLimans said about his college choice. "Going to a prep school, especially after not playing AAU, was the best way to get that."
So off he went to Worcester Academy, averaging 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 assists a game, signing with Michigan last November. The extra time gave him a chance to get more experience at a higher level and allow his name to get out to coaches who might have missed him during high school and the AAU circuit. Not only did it allow him to gain valuable experience, it allowed him to focus on just basketball for the first time.
With his enrollment in a prep school putting off his college decision for a bit, it allowed him new opportunities that he had not yet experienced. It paid off. Especially the day Michigan, and more importantly, head coach John Beilein came calling.
When it came down to it, U-M offered the perfect fit for McLimans and his game.
"I really, really liked Coach Beilein a lot. He does really well with my type of player. That is basically the reason I picked Michigan," McLimans explained of his choice.
What exactly is Beilein's type of player "Whoever is tall and can shoot," he said with a smile.
The perfect fit for the spread it out and move type offense Beilein uses. Just with the others who have committed to play for the Wolverines with Beilein at the helm, McLimans has confidence in his coach.
"I knew Coach Beilein was going to turn it around no matter where he goes," McLimans explained as to why he signed early, with the Wolverines coming off a 10-22 season. "That is what he does. Watching practice before the season and watching him coach during the year just shows that. I knew they would have a successful season (in 2008-09)."
McLimans, along with all the Wolverine faithful, want to make sure that the 2009-10 season is just as productive and successful, if not more, than the 2008-09 campaign. Only on campus for a month, McLimans knows what he needs to do to have an impact on the game.
"I need to get stronger," McLimans said with a smile.
He definitely has the length -- a 7-1 wing span -- which was evident when he picked a first-row seat in Crisler so he could unfold his legs while talking. But the Big Ten season is a long one, meaning that added strength is not an option.
"That is the main thing right now (in the summer)," said McLimans. "I want to work with Coach to become a better player."
As for making a return to the diamond or the volleyball court in the future
"We will see. You never know what will happen with baseball. I was a pitcher and you can always go back to baseball. But right now, I am focused on basketball."
And for only the second time in his life, he can say that.
Behind the Lines Series
Part 6: The Journey Back ... Freshman Jordan Morgan
Part 4: The Locker Room Conversation ... Freshman Josh Bartelstein
Part 3: Right In His Backyard ... Freshman Eso Akunne
Part 2: Embracing the Cross-Country Move ... Freshman Darius Morris
Part 1: Bringing the Shooter's Touch ... Freshman Matt Vogrich
