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On Thursday evening, Michigan got some big news on the recruiting trail as 2018 prospect David DeJulius committed to the program. It was the program’s first pickup in the 2018 recruiting class and one that should keep the Wolverines trending upward.
Along with Michigan, DeJulius attracted his fair share of interest. He already had offers from DePaul, Detroit, and Oakland before committing and was already getting interest from Iowa, Iowa State, and Michigan State among others. Michigan had been the favorite to land DeJulius according to 247Sports’ Crystal Ball predictions.
Blessed to announce that I have verbally committed to The University of Michigan!!! #GOBLUE pic.twitter.com/gx7EsKOd4m
— David DeJulius (@DavidDejulius) December 22, 2016
DeJulius is listed as 6-foot-1 by Prep Hoops Michigan and 188 pounds by 247Sports. He plays at Detroit East English Village in Michigan. He’s listed as a point guard and he’s expected to play there in college.
Prep Hoops Michigan rates DeJulius as the No. 7 player in the state of Michigan’s 2018 class and he’s rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports. Obviously, he’s not viewed as a nationally elite prospect, but he’s more than good enough to earn major attention. DeJulius is also a prospect that could very well trend up in the coming months.
The biggest part of DeJulius’s game that the scouts like is his ability to shoot the ball. He has developed his shot significantly over the last few years and does a great job of shooting the ball off the dribble. How much that will translate to the college level is up for debate, but it certainly seems like a good fit for Beilein’s offense on paper. He’s also really quick with the ball in the hands and should be able to get inside consistently.
When he arrives in Ann Arbor, he will likely be slotted behind Xavier Simpson and Eli Brooks on the depth chart. However, the good news is that it should give him time to gain experience and develop his game before he needs to contribute heavily for Michigan. Simply put, don’t expect him to play major minutes early.
There’s no telling how DeJulius and Michigan will perform down the road, but considering his potential fit in Beilein’s system, don’t be surprised to see him turn into the next quality Michigan guard.