Michigan Guard Darius Morris Is Testing NBA Waters
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Darius Morris is asking the NBA to gauge his game.
The 6-foot-4 sophomore guard led Michigan last season with 15 points and 6.7 assists per game. The NBA's undergraduate advisory committee will assess where he would be selected and tell him by April 18, a week before the deadline for underclassmen to declare themselves eligible for the June draft.
Michigan coach John Beilein insists this is not bad news.
"This is a really good issue to have," Beilein said Monday. "If we have these situations every year with young men that have the possibility of being drafted, most importantly having a career in the NBA, these are good things."
Beilein said the general consensus is that underclassmen should stay in college if they're expected to be second round picks without guaranteed contracts.
"There are a lot of risks involved," he said. "We want what's best for him."
Morris helped the surprising Wolverines finish tied for fourth in the Big Ten. They beat Tennessee in the NCAA tournament and Morris' shot to tie Duke at the end of regulation was just short.
"Within two days after the season was over, I called Darius into the office and suggested that we go through the undergraduate advisory committee and gather information," Beilein said. He said it was his duty as a coach and told Morris he wanted him to hear "from the right people."
Michigan was 21-14 last season without a senior on the roster.
If the Wolverines lose Morris, their coach won't be turned off by players talented enough to skip seasons to start NBA careers.
"We're not looking for guys that just want to go to college and that's it and don't have aspirations of playing after they're done," Beilein said.
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