8 - Friday, April 11, 2014 Sports The Michigan Dail - michi andaiiy. Where's everyone going already? Horford to transfer next year Redshirt junior is eligible to transfer to any school By DANIEL WASSERMAN Daily Sports Editor In a rather shocking development, the first Michigan men's basketball player to announce his departure this offseason is Jon Horford. On a day that began with reports that sophomore guard Nik Stauskas had decided to depart for the NBA Draft - Stauskas later shot down the notion that he had reached a final decision - the Wolverines lost a player who was expected to be an integral part of next year's lineup. "My time at Michigan has been the most beneficial period of my life in terms of athletic' enlightenment," Horford said in a statement. "The bonds created over the last four years are everlasting, and the memories made are truly priceless. As on all journeys, new paths must be taken and intuition must be trusted. I leave Michigan with nothing but love in my heart." Horford, who averaged 3.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in slightly less than 14 minutes. per game this season, started seven games before fifth-year senior forward Jordan Morgan took over the majority of the minutes at the '5' spot. However, with Morgan graduating and sophomore forward Mitch McGary's status still in limbo - he, along with Stauskas and sophomore forward Glenn Robinson III are contemplating whether to forgo their final two years of college eligibility in favor of a professional career - Horford could've found himself significant minut Because Horfo next month, he any school and pl next season, soio in a graduate prc offered at the University, per NCAA rules. Should McGary decide to leave, Michigan's only true post player with experience would be Max Bielfeldt, though the redshirt sophom only in spots - Horford or Mo foul trouble. Bie in just 19 of the games this seas total points and r rebounms ner va es next year. at a time. rd willgraduate Freshman Mark Donnal, who can transfer to redshirted this season, will also lay immediately likely play a prominent role in ng as he enrolls the lineup. Donnal added 10-15 ogram that isn't pounds since the season began and has raised eyebrows in practice lately. "I leave"He's becoming Michigan with a force," Morgan said nothing but love two weeks ago. "He's In my heart." hard to guard down there in the post, and he's definitely Guard Nik Stauskas was reported to be headed tothe 2014 NBA Draftlby ESPN Stauskas to leave. .ore has played - mostly when rgan were in lfeldt appeared Wolverines' 37 on, scoring 15 pulling down 1.1 me mhilerarelv come a long way. "Over the past couple months, he's just become really good. Really dominates, shoots the ball well." Another option, one Michigan coach John Beilein hinted at during his Wednesday press conference, is seeking a transfer to fill a void - a practice he used regularly while coaching Richmond, Canisius and West Virginia. "If we have openings and there are transfers that fit who we are, we are open to that," Beilein said. With Morgan gone, Michigan also loses another active voice in the locker room. Should Robinson leave too, Michigan would have to replace each of its captains for the second offseason in a row. "Jon has been an integral part of our many accomplishments over the last four years," Beilein said. "He brought great enthusiasm, leadership and work ethic to our program. Jon is a wonderful young man who has a very bright future ahead of him. "We will be rooting for him every step of the way." By SIMON KAUFMAN Daily Sports Writer Sophomore guard Nik Stauskas was following in the steps of former guard Trey Burke. Burke led the Wolverines to the Final Four last year; Stauskas carried the team into the Elite Eight this March. Burke was named last year's Big Ten Player of the Year; Stauskas took home the honor in 2013-14. Thursday morning, a report from ESPN's Jeff Goodman said that he'll be following Burke again - this time to the NBA. Goodman reported that a source close to Stauskas said that he had made his decision and would announce his intentions to declare for the NBA Draft shortly. Stauskas took to Twitter shortly after the report surfaced to reiterate that any decisions about his future were not final yet. "Just wanted to reiterate that any reports about my future intenions are FALSE!" Stauskas said on Twitter. "I have NOT made ANY decisions on my future yet!" Later Thursday, the guard told ESPN.com that he had not made a final choice as to whether he will return for his junior season in Ann Arbor. His father reiterated a similar message to UM Hoops. The sophomore spent last weekend at home in Mississauga, Ontario, weighing his decision with family and friends. The6-foot-6guard led theteam in scoring this year, averaging 17.5 points per game. He shot 47 percent from the field and 44 percent beyond the arc, and he also had a team-best 118 assists. The stats were good enough for a spot on the NABC All-American first team. After his freshman season, Stauskas stayed on campus to work on his game and his body. He added 16 pounds of muscle, which helped him transform his game by giving him the ability to drive and get points in the paint Experts have him slotted as a mid-first round pick on the cusp of the lottery. Gary Parrish, a national columnist for CBS Sports, has Stauskas going as the 15th pick to the Atlanta Hawks. PAUL SHERMAN/Daily Redshirt juniorJon Horford announced he will transfer after averaging 3.8 points and 4.2 rebounds last season. Once a walk-on, Lindsay Williams emerges By CINDY YU already been counted, she Daily Sports Writer clinched a much-needed, season- best score of 9.825 in the anchor Lindsay Williams didn't know position. what it was like to be a key player. The following week, Williams For all but one month of contributed another solid beam her collegiate career, the set at the Big Ten Championships, sophomore was an alternate for helping the team clinch the the No. 7 Michigan women's conference title. gymnastics team. The Northville, "We were the underdogs going Mich. native has frequently into that afternoon session and exhibitioned throughout the we had something to prove since season, making the occasional it had been two years since we appearance on uneven bars and won Big Ten," she said. "It was balance beam in the six-up, five- nice to see our team score hold count team format. out in the evening session. It was On March 15 at the Big Ten the most unbelievable feeling Quad, however, Williams was ever." thrust into a starting role where As the postseason approached she has competed like a seasoned and the stakes grew bigger, veteran. Williams expanded her role on Stepping in for sophomore the team at the NCAA Regionals. Briley Casanova after the beam With sophomore Austin specialist strained her ankle in Sheppard out with an ankle practice,Williamsprovedshe was injury, Williams was called upon able to deliver in high-pressure to compete on bars for just the ci.9irc s t .r . vinrr t._ire -:- a a t ic a: - - In an uncharacteristic fashion, showed consistency with her senior Joanna Sampson recorded third hit beam routine in a row. her first fall of the season after Her two routines were crucial to missing her release move. the team's first place finish. Preventing "For her the fall from to be able to counting and step in at the backing up "Een , end of the her teammate, Even if she s season after Williams notth os things have rallied in the the most already been anchor spot talented kid established and set a new kid and people career high, she has earned are in their 9.850. flow of what "After she respect." they're doing landed her is amazing," bar routine, I Sampson said. literally had A key factor tears of joy," to her recent Sampson said. success is her work ethic. Added Williams: "I just tell "You get exactly what you myself that there's no way I'm not see," said Michigan coach Bev going to make that routine." Plocki. "Even if she's not the Keeping her team in the most talented kid on the team, running for the top spot at she has earned the respect from regionals after bars, Williams very single one of her teammates because of her work ethic and her commitment. She's just a very sincere, likeable, hardworking student-athlete." Williams started out her freshman year as a walk- on gymnast. Because of her progress and value to the team, she earned a scholarship at the t end of the summer before her sophomore year. Former assistant coach Shannon Walker first recognized the youngtalent when he saw her compete at nationals. It onlytook a few visits for her to be set on Michigan. "When I came here, it just clicked," Williams said. "I felt most comfortable with the girls at Michigan and the coaches made me feel really welcomed. Just seeing the facilities and the school, and knowing how great academically it is and how great G the tradition is, it just really gave K.COM/UM Gme the feeling that this is where I wanted tobe." Since then, she has grown tremendously, with her physical strength showing the greatest improvement. When Williams first started training with the Wolverines, she wasn't 100 percent. One of her thighs was significantly smaller than the other because of a knee injury that required surgery her senior year of high school. By focusing on strength and conditioning, Williams has made significant strides in her endurance and ability. Now, Plocki feels confident about putting in Williams because of her dependability her competition performance reflects her arduous training regimen. Her role as an alternate throughout the majority of the season hasn't diminished her competition her input into training and her work ethic is the same in the gym and in the classroom. Earning Academic All-Big Ten recognition, the neuroscience major values her education. "Even though you're the alternate, you're right on the edge," Williams said. "You need to think of yourself as being in the lineup because if something happens to someone, or there's a situation where you need to go in essentially, you are in the lineup, so you just have to train with that mentality." With the Wolverines constantly pushing people in the lineup, alternates help the team effort as a whole and separate the top teams from everyone else in terms of depth. Intheupcomingseason,Plocki sees her as a threat for a lineup spot on floor. But for now, only one thing is on the 20-year-old's mind: NCAA Championships. As the team prepares for nationals, Williams can feel secure about her spot in the bars and beam lineups. "I love seeing success stories like this because she's been working extremely hard and she got to where she is today from putting in so much blood, sweat and tears into what she's doing," Plocki said. "It's paying off for her and for us." Lindsay Williams has overcome knee surgery to be a critical part of th team.