Caris LeVert

Caris LeVert

LeVert in the 2013–14 Big Ten season opener at Williams Arena against Minnesota
No. 23 – Michigan Wolverines
Position Shooting guard
League Big Ten Conference
Personal information
Born August 25, 1994
Columbus, Ohio
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight 200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school Pickerington Central
(Columbus, Ohio)
College Michigan (2012–present)
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-Big Ten (2014)
  • Associated Press All-Ohio Second Team (2012)
  • Columbus Dispatch Metro Co-Player of the Year (2012)
  • OHSAA Division I state champion (2012)

Caris Coleman LeVert (born August 25, 1994) is an American college basketball player for the Michigan Wolverines who has completed his junior season for the 2014–15 team. As a freshman for the 2012–13 team, he nearly redshirted but earned a key role off the bench as the team went on to reach the championship game in the 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. As a sophomore for the 2013–14 team, he became an regular starter and was selected as a second team 2013–14 All-Big Ten player for the outright Big Ten regular season champions. During his first two years at Michigan, he was notable as the training partner of back-to-back Big Ten Players of the Year Trey Burke (also national player of the year) and Nik Stauskas. He was a 2012 Associated Press All-Ohio Second Team high school basketball player and the 2012 Columbus Dispatch Metro Player of the Year for the 2012 Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I state champion Pickerington High School Central in Ohio. He was a 2014–15 preseason All-Big Ten first team selection and a preseason All-American according to many selectors, but he suffered an injury midway through his junior season.

Early life

LeVert grew up in Northeast Columbus but moved to nearby Pickerington in second grade.[1] As a high school senior, he led Pickerington High School Central to a 26–2 record and the 2012 OHSAA Division I state championship.[1] LeVert was a 2012 Associated Press All-Ohio Second Team high school basketball player and the 2012 Columbus Dispatch Metro Player of the Year for Pickerington High School Central. He was not heavily recruited in high school and his only official visit was to Alabama State.[2] He committed to play basketball for John Groce and the Ohio Bobcats men's basketball program in November 2011.[3] Meanwhile, when future teammates Mitch McGary and Stauskas joined Glenn Robinson III by committing to Michigan in November 2011, Michigan became the fifth best recruiting class in the country.[4][5]

When Groce got hired by Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball in March 2012, LeVert got lost in the shuffle and decided to commit to Michigan.[3][6] Ironically, Groce's 2011–12 Ohio Bobcats' upset of the 2011–12 Michigan team in the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was probably the reason that Groce was hired by Illinois and LeVert withdrew his National Letter of Intent to play for Ohio.[7]

Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Caris LeVert
SG		 Columbus, OH Pickerington High School Central (OH) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) May 12, 2012 
Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 87
Overall recruiting rankings:   ESPN: 67 (SG), 11 (OH)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

College

The 2011–12 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team had been co-champions of 2011–12 Big Ten Conference,[8] but lost both of its co-captains, Zack Novak and Stu Douglass, to graduation and three players as transfers.[9][10] The team was returning a nucleus of All-Big Ten players Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway, Jr.[11]

2012–13 season

LeVert defending against VCU in the 2013 NCAA Basketball Tournament

LeVert arrived at Michigan weighing 152 pounds (68.9 kg).[6] As a freshman, he began the year behind Stauskas, Robinson, Tim Hardaway, Jr., and Matt Vogrich on the depth chart for the shooting guard/small forward positions and did not play in the first six games as a result.[12] LeVert was a part of an incoming class that included McGary, Stauskas, Robinson, and Spike Albrecht.[13] Eventually, Michigan head coach John Beilein decided that LeVert had value as a perimeter defender and decided to play him rather than redshirt him.[12] On December 1 against Bradley Beilein juggled his lineup: Stauskas made his first career regular season start and LeVert saw his first action.[14][15] By late December, LeVert became the one-on-one partner for Burke after practices.[16] LeVert made his first start on December 29 against Central Michigan, when Tim Hardaway, Jr. was unavailable. The 3 freshmen in the starting lineup—Robinson, Stauskas and LeVert—combined for 48 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists.[17][18] That night LeVert tallied 9 points and 5 assists.[19] LeVert averaged 2.3 points in under 11 minutes of play per game.[13] He never scored in double digits as a freshman,[6] but he scored 8 points each in conference wins over Illinois and Michigan State as well as the 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament final four victory over Syracuse in 21 minutes of play.[6][12]

2013–14 season

LeVert in the 2013–14 Big Ten season opener at Williams Arena against Minnesota

LeVert's classmates all made names for themselves as freshmen.[13] During the Spring and Summer semesters (the offseason) of 2013 LeVert and Stauskas trained together on the court and in the weight room.[20] He followed fellow Columbus native and National Player of the Year Burke as a key contributor to Michigan basketball as a sophomore.[6] After opening the season with career-highs of 17 points and 5 rebounds on November 8 against UMass Lowell,[21][22] he posted 24 points on November 12 against South Carolina State.[23][24] When Michigan played (#10 AP Poll/ #8 Coaches' Poll)[25] Duke in the ACC–Big Ten Challenge on December 3, LeVert again posted 24 points, including a 7–7 free throw performance.[26][27] On January 18, Michigan defeated (#3 AP/#3 Coaches)[28] Wisconsin at the Kohl Center for the first time since the 1998–99 team did so on February 27, 1999.[29][30] It was the highest ranked team Michigan has ever beaten on the road.[31][32][33] LeVert contributed a career-high 4 steals and 20 points.[29][34] LeVert posted his first double double on January 30 at home against Purdue with a career-high 11 rebounds and 14 points.[35] On February 16, Michigan lost to (#21/21)[36] Wisconsin, despite a career-high 25 points from LeVert.[37] He was a 2014 second team 2013–14 All-Big Ten selection (coaches and media).[38][39] On March 11 LeVert was named to the all-District V (OH, IN, IL, MI, MN, WI) team by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).[40][41] The 2013–14 team was eliminated in the elite eight round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament by Kentucky.[42] LeVert and teammate Stauskas, joined Julius Randle, Aaron Harrison and Marcus Lee on the All-Midwest Regional team.[43]

On May 12, LeVert underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot. He was expected to be sidelined for 8–10 weeks, but be available for the team's August trip to play in Europe.[44] LeVert returned to action just before the team's August 15–24 10-day, 4-game trip to Italy.[45][46]

2014–15 season

LeVert's season was cut short in January.

Prior to the 2014–15 season, LeVert was named a first team All-Big Ten preseason selection along with Frank Kaminsky, Yogi Ferrell, Terran Petteway, and Sam Dekker.[47] LeVert was selected by NBCSports.com to its Preseason All-American first team, by SB Nation,[48] Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook,[49] Athlon Sports,[50] Bleacher Report,[51] Sports Illustrated,[52] and CBSSports.com to their second teams and by USA Today to its third team.[53][54][55] In its preseason top 100 player ranking, LeVert was listed at number 13 by ESPN.[56] He was also listed as a John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 candidate.[57] LeVert also was named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List on November 24.[58] He was also included in the early December Naismith Award top 50 watch list.[59]

When Derrick Walton and LeVert were sidelined for the season in January 2015, the 2014–15 Wolverines began to struggle

LeVert was named co-captain of the team along with Spike Albrecht.[60][61] He opened the season with 9 assists against Hillsdale College on November 15, surpassing his previous career-high of five.[62][63] On November 24, against Oregon, LeVert established a career high by making 11 free throws helping the team to a 70–63 victory in the Legends Classic semifinal game.[64][65] He posted a career-high 32 points and tied a career-high 4 steals on December 6 in an upset loss to NJIT.[66][67][68] He posted 4 steals again against Minnesota on January 10.[69][70] On January 17 against Northwestern, he reinjured the foot that he had had surgery on the prior May and was lost for the season.[71][72][73] At the time of his injury, LeVert led Michigan in scoring (14.9), rebounds (4.9), assists (3.7), steals (1.7) and minutes (35.8).[74] LeVert was on crutches until early March and in a protective walking boot until early April.[75][76]

2015 NBA draft

LeVert had been expected to be a 2015 NBA Draft selection, but following his injury some felt his draft stock was impaired.[77] Following the season, he sought advice from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee, but decided that he needed a second evaluation from them as the field of declared underclassmen became more clear with the thinking that "I don't think it really makes sense to (leave school) early and get drafted in the second round".[76] On April 21, LeVert announced that he would return for his senior season.[78][79] According to CBSSports.com's Sam Vecenie, this would give LeVert a chance to improve his pick and roll decision making, his midrange offensive game and his defense, especially against screens.[80]

Personal

LeVert is the son of Kim and Darryl LeVert and has 1 sibling, Darryl, who is his junior by 11 months.[1] His mother is a Columbus City Schools first grade teacher. His father, who was a graphic designer, died on April 4, 2010 at the age of 46. As of February 2014, his brother, Darryl, played basketball for Connors State College .[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Quinn, Brendan F. (2014-02-28). "The untold story of Michigan's quiet Caris LeVert". MLive.com. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  2. ↑ Snyder, Mark (2014-10-16). "Caris LeVert aims to be next Michigan guard to step up". USA Today. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dauster, Rob (2014-03-03). "Caris LeVert would be at Illinois if John Groce had picked up the phone". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  4. ↑ Jordan, Jason (2011-11-03). "Mitch McGary commits to Michigan". ESPN. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  5. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (2011-11-03). "With Mitch McGary in tow, Michigan basketball now has a top five class for 2012". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Jones, Todd (2014-02-16). "Men's basketball: Caris LeVert is latest overlooked player to take his talents to Michigan". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  7. ↑ Eisenberg, Jeff (2014-02-23). "Caris LeVert's development has Michigan on the verge of a Big Ten title". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  8. ↑ "Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Release: 2012 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament features five of nation's top 15 teams". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  9. ↑ "Novak, Douglass, Burke Honored at End-of-the-Season Banquet". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2012-04-10. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  10. ↑ [hhttp://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/032112aaa.html "Smotrycz, Christian, Brundidge Decide to Leave Program"]. MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  11. ↑ "Big Ten Announces 2012 Men's Basketball Postseason Honors: Michigan State's Green named Big Ten Player of the Year". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Kahn, Andrew (2014-01-07). "Rising Star: Michigan Guard Caris LeVert". KYW-TV. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Payne, Terrence (2014-02-28). "Assigned Reading: Caris LeVert's defining moment". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  14. ↑ "(3) Michigan 74 (7-0, 1-0 away); Bradley 66 (5-2, 3-1 home)". ESPN. 2012-12-01. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
  15. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #3 Michigan 74, Bradley 66". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2012-12-01. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
  16. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (2012-12-22). "Michigan's Columbus connection: Trey Burke taking frosh Caris LeVert under his wing this season". MLive.com. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  17. ↑ "Trey Burke leads No. 2 Michigan past Central Michigan". ESPN. Associated Press. 2012-12-29. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  18. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #2 Michigan 88, Central Michigan 73". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2012-12-29. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  19. ↑ "Cent Michigan 73 (7-6, 1-3 away); (2) Michigan 88 (13-0, 9-0 home)". ESPN. Associated Press. 2012-12-29. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  20. ↑ Rothschild, Neal (2013-11-20). "Summer of labor propels Stauskas and LeVert to next level". Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  21. ↑ "UMass Lowell 42 (0-1, 0-1 away); (7) Michigan 69 (1-0, 1-0 home)". ESPN. 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  22. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #7 Michigan 69, UMass Lowell 42". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  23. ↑ "Caris LeVert drains six 3's as No. 7 Michigan breezes". ESPN. 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  24. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #7 Michigan 93, South Carolina State 59". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  25. ↑ "Tuesday's #B1GACC Results". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  26. ↑ "No. 10 Duke rebounds from Arizona loss to grind out win vs. Michigan". ESPN. 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  27. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #10 Duke 79, #22 Michigan 69". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  28. ↑ "Saturday's Men's Basketball Results". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Michigan hands No. 3 Wisconsin second-straight loss". ESPN. 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  30. ↑ "Michigan-Wisconsin Preview". ESPN. 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  31. ↑ Snyder, Mark (2014-01-18). "Nik Stauskus keys Michigan to upset win over No. 3 Wisconsin". USA Today. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  32. ↑ Rothschild, Neal (2014-01-18). "Neal Rothschild: Validation for a team with everything to prove". Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  33. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (2014-01-18). "Michigan's win over No. 3 Wisconsin officially the top road victory in program history". MLive.com. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  34. ↑ "Postgame Notes: Michigan 77, Wisconsin 70". MGoBlue. CBS Interactive. 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  35. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #10 Michigan 75, Purdue 66". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2014-01-30. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  36. ↑ "Sunday's Men's Basketball Results". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2014-02-16. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  37. ↑ "Frank Kaminsky shines as Wisconsin beats Michigan". ESPN. 2014-02-16. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  38. ↑ "Big Ten Announces 2014 Men's Basketball Postseason Honors: Michigan's Stauskas named Big Ten Player of the Year". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2014-03-10. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  39. ↑ "Stauskas Big Ten's Top Player; Beilein Coach of the Year". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2014-03-10. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  40. ↑ "USBWA Names 2013–14 Men's All-District Teams". United States Basketball Writers Association. 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  41. ↑ "Beilein, Stauskas, LeVert Earn USBWA District V Awards". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  42. ↑ "(8) Kentucky 75 (28-10, 12-6 SEC); (2) Michigan 72 (28-9, 15-3 Big Ten)". ESPN. 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  43. ↑ Engel, Mac (2014-03-30). "Mom has to leave, but Kentucky's Randle is headed home". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  44. ↑ Borzello, Jeff (2014-05-13). "Michigan's Caris LeVert out 8-10 weeks after foot surgery". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
  45. ↑ Borzello, Jeff (2014-08-14). "Michigan guard Caris LeVert returns to action after ankle injury". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  46. ↑ "Michigan Men's Basketball in Italy". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  47. ↑ "Wisconsin Named Preseason Favorite: Badgers' Frank Kaminsky named Preseason Player of the Year". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2014-10-16. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  48. ↑ Rutherford, Mike (2014-11-13). "The Preseason All-Americans". SB Nation. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
  49. ↑ Dortch, Chris (2014-09-22). "Blue Ribbon announces complete All-America teams, player of year and newcomer of year". Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  50. ↑ Fox, David (2014-11-10). "Athlon Sports' 2014-15 College Basketball All-America Team". Athlon Sports. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  51. ↑ Moore, C. J. (2014-11-13). "B/R's 2014-15 Preseason College Basketball All-American Picks". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  52. ↑ "Marcus Paige, Jahlil Okafor lead SI's preseason All-America team". Sports Illustrated. 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
  53. ↑ "USA TODAY Sports' 2014-15 preseason college basketball All-American team". USA Today. 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
  54. ↑ Dauster, Rob (2014-11-03). "College Basketball Talk’s 2014-2015 Preseason All-American Teams". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2014-11-05.
  55. ↑ Parrish, Gary (2014-10-07). "CBSSports.com 2014-15 Preseason All-America basketball teams". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2014-10-23.
  56. ↑ "College Hoops Rankings: 19-11". ESPN. 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2014-11-05.
  57. ↑ "Wooden Top 50 watch list unveiled". ESPN. 2014-11-17. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
  58. ↑ "Seven Big Ten teams enter Monday night's action with unbeaten records". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. 2014-11-24. Retrieved 2014-11-25.
  59. ↑ "Naismith Watch List of 50 announced". NCAA. 2014-12-03. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  60. ↑ Snyder, Mark (2014-11-15). "Michigan hoops announce LeVert, Albrecht as captains". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
  61. ↑ Quinn, Brendan F. (2014-11-15). "Once unknown recruits, Caris LeVert, Spike Albrecht to serve as Michigan's 2014-15 team captains". MLive.com. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
  62. ↑ "No. 24 Michigan eases past Hillsdale 92-68". ESPN. 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
  63. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #24 Michigan 92, Hillsdale College 68". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
  64. ↑ "No. 19 Michigan tops Oregon 70-63 in Legends". ESPN. 2014-11-24. Retrieved 2014-11-25.
  65. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #19 Michigan 70, Oregon 63". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2014-11-24. Retrieved 2014-11-25.
  66. ↑ "LeVert's Career-High 32 Not Enough in Loss to NJIT". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2014-12-06. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  67. ↑ "NJIT stuns No. 17 Michigan with critical 3-pointer". ESPN. Associated Press. 2014-12-06. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  68. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #17 Michigan 68, Syracuse 65". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2014-12-03.
  69. ↑ "Michigan rallies for 62-57 win over Minnesota". ESPN. Associated Press. 2015-01-10. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  70. ↑ "Michigan Throws Down Minnesota in Throwbacks". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. 2015-01-10. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  71. ↑ Goodman, Jeff (2015-01-18). "Caris LeVert to have foot surgery". ESPN. Retrieved 2015-01-19.
  72. ↑ Norlander, Matt (2015-01-18). "Surgery for Caris LeVert to sideline Michigan star for rest of the season". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2015-01-19.
  73. ↑ Biggers, Adam (2015-01-18). "Caris LeVert's Injury the Final Blow on Michigan's Hugely Disappointing Season". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2015-01-19.
  74. ↑ "Short-handed Michigan edges Rutgers 54-50". ESPN. Associated Press. 2015-01-20. Retrieved 2015-01-21.
  75. ↑ Vecenie, Sam (2015-03-12). "Caris LeVert unsure on whether or not he'll declare for NBA Draft". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  76. ↑ 76.0 76.1 Quinn, Brendan F. (2015-04-15). "Caris LeVert awaiting another NBA evaluation, says projected second-round picks shouldn't leave". MLive.com. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  77. ↑ Deveney, Sean (2015-01-19). "NBA scout on injured Caris LeVert and the draft: "His stock is hurt"". Sporting News. Retrieved 2015-01-21.
  78. ↑ Chiappelli, Kirstie (2015-04-21). "Caris LeVert announces return to Michigan for senior season". Sporting News. Retrieved 2015-04-21.
  79. ↑ Goodman, Jeff (2015-04-21). "Caris LeVert to return to Michigan for senior season". ESPN. Retrieved 2015-04-21.
  80. ↑ Vecenie, Sam (2015-04-27). "A reintroduction to the best NBA Draft prospects to stay in school". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2015-04-30.

External links