Another 2022 four-star point guard visits: Here’s how Dug McDaniel can help the Wolverines

Another 2022 four-star point guard is visiting Michigan as we speak, as Dug McDaniel started his official visit yesterday.

McDaniel is a DMV kid who shined on Team Takeover, much like Hunter Dickson and Terrance Williams did as prospects.

Ranked as the 14th-best point guard in his class, McDaniel is a pass-first player who can be an absolute pest for guards on the defensive end.

He gets up in the grill of opposing guards, much like Jrue Holiday or Derrick White. As Ant Wright broke down last year, he even makes life hell for five-stars like Amari Bailey (fast-forward to around the 1:19 to see that defensive mastery)

My favorite part of McDaniel’s game is the energy and confidence he plays with. He’s a lightning rod who celebrates steals and great passes, and that can be contagious on a young Michigan team.

McDaniel has excellent court vision, as he speeds past his defender and looks to pass as soon as his driving lane is closed. His timing on those passes is already impressive.

He’s got a decent jump shot and has great footwork on pull-up threes. As Ant pointed out, he does tend to drop the ball below his waist on catch-and-shoot threes, but that’s something Michigan coaches can help work out of his game.

When McDaniel does have an open driving lane, he can make opponents pay. He darts to the rim like Ish Smith, and despite being listed at 5-foot-9 on 247Sports, he can score at the rim reliably with some acrobatic finishes.

If McDaniel were to come to Michigan, they would be getting an incredible on-ball defender who can mesh well with the young guards coming in thanks to his passing ability and unselfishness.

I would love to see the Michigan coaching staff get creative with McDaniel’s defensive ability. The idea of a press with McDaniel and DeVante’ Jones hounding the guards and Caleb Houstan or Moussa Diabate giving the in-bounder hell like Shane Battier did with Duke should strike fear into the hearts of opposing Big Ten coaches.

With Seth Trimble having already visited Michigan last weekend and McDaniel visiting this week, it seems likely at least one of the point guards will be a part of Michigan’s 2022 recruiting class.

If I had to compare the two, Trimble is a little better on creating his own shot and has a more reliable jumper, while McDaniel is a much better defender who could work better as a secondary option on offense.

If one of the talented prospects commits to the Wolverines, the future of Michigan basketball will continue to get brighter.