Michigan Basketball Recruit Named Mr. Basketball Indiana


Kevin Jairaj-USA Today Sports

Despite the fact that the 2013 Final Four Michigan Wolverines may lose Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr., the team is stacked for the 2013-2014 NCAA Basketball season. The hits kept coming this week as recruit Zak Irvin was named Mr. Basketball for the state of Indiana.

Irvin is one of three top 100 recruits coming to Ann Arbor next season. Irvin, from Hamilton Southeastern, helped his high school earn back to back Mr. Basketball awards. Gary Harris, a freshman at Michigan State, won the award last season and played with Irvin for two seasons.

Irvin averaged around 19 points per game and contributed strong rebound and assists numbers as well. During his three years on varsity, Irvin helped his team to a 59-11 record. Irvin is the first Mr. Basketball winner from the state of Indiana to attend the University of Michigan.

Irvin joins an amazing list of past winners for the state’s top basketball player annual award. Back in 1956, NBA legend Oscar Robertson won the award. Along with Robertson, winners Kent Benson (1973), Glenn Robinson (1991), and Greg Oden (2006), were all taken with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. Recently, Luke Zeller, Tyler Zeller, Cody Zeller and Eric Gordon won the award.

Michigan recruit Derrick Walton finished runner-up for the Mr. Basketball award in the state of Michigan. Walton was beat out by Iowa State recruit Monte Morris in a close 2130 to 2086 vote.

Burke and Hardaway Jr have not officially announced their intent for the NBA following the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Without the duo, Michigan will return big man Mitch McGary, guards Spike Albrecht and Nick Stauskas, and forward Glenn Robinson III. Irvin, Walton, and Mark Donnal are all top 100 recruits who can contribute early.

Michigan has a legit chance to win the 2013 NCAA Tournament. If they do, I expect Burke and Hardaway to head to the NBA. If they exit early, Michigan will not get the credit they deserve for next year.

Follow Chris Katje on Twitter.

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