the NHL will hold a party of its
awn on Saturday with its draft.
Michigan hockey players Wednesday
Andrew Merrick and Sean
are eligible for selection.19
BA Draft
next for
Mo Taylor
By Sharat Ralu
Daily Sports Editor
On April 11, Maurice Taylor declared
that he wants to play in the NBA.
Nearly two months later, Taylor will
find out if the NBA wants him.
A week from today in Charlotte, the
6-foot-9, 250-pound forward will be
anxiously awaiting commissioner David
rn's announcement regarding where
future lies. If anywhere.
Taylor, who averaged 12.9 points per
game and 6.2 rebounds per game while
at Michigan, is forgoing his senior year
in order to play professionally.
"Most of these kids don't want to go
to school," NBA superscout Marty
Blake said. "They go to school the same
way that a chemist goes to school to
improve their education - whether it's
*letically or chemistry-wise.'
aylor, a 21-year-old Detroit native
was selected as Big Ten freshman of the
year in the 1994-95 season.
But his draft value is uncertain.
Reports from several sources have pro-
jected him as high as a lottery pick to as
low as a middle second round selection.
Blake feels that Taylor won't con-
tribute much at the next level and should
have stayed in college for another season.
"Who is Maurice Taylor?" he said.
hat is he going to contribute to a
team? He didn't help Michigan, why
would he help an NBA team, so why is
Hughes dismissal handicaps
Blue basketball for '96-'97
By Mark Snyder
Daily Sports Editor
Despite the many travails of the
Michigan basketball team this offseason,
Michigan coach Steve Fisher does plan
to start five players when Michigan
opens its season.
And now he knows which five - the
only five left.
Guard Brandun Hughes, who only
played one season for Michigan was dis-
missed from the team last Friday.
In a prepared statement from Fisher,
he discussed why Hughes was no longer
at the University.
"Brandun made a commitment and
did what he needed to do to enter the
University of Michigan," Fisher said.
"However, he has failed to maintain the
necessary commitments to both acade-
mics and the basketball program."
Hughes transferred to Michigan prior
to last season from Barton County
(Kan.) Community College. After aver-
aging 28 points per game at Barton, he
was expected to step in as Michigan's
starting point
guard.
As the first
junior college
transfer at
Michigan since
Rickey Green in
1976, Hughes
failed to meet
expectations, post-
ing an 8.8 points-
Hughes per-game average.
He would have
been the fourth-highest returning scorer
for the Wolverines.
"Already they're thin in sheer num-
bers," said Bob Gibbons, a recruiting
expert from All-Star Sports. "This is a
further blow."
With the dismissal of Hughes from
the program and Maurice Taylor's
departure to the NBA, Fisher is left
with only five experienced players from
last season's team.
Junior center Robert Traylor, who
contemplated leaving for the draft as
well, returns as the only center with sig-
nificant playing experience.
"There is not a replacement for Taylor
in this (recruiting) group," Gibbons said.
Both freshman Josh Asselin and
sophomore Peter Vignier are under
scholarship and approach seven feet,
but neither has the premier talent Taylor
displayed.
Senior forwards Maceo Baston and
Jerod Ward saw playing time last season
on the front line, but their likely backup
- freshman Brandon Smith - has yet
See HUGHES, Page 15
Maurice Taylor hopes to be waving
toward a team at the NBA draft.
he coming out?"
Taylor's reason for leaving Michigan
might be to escape the current NCAA
investigation into the basketball pro-
gram. Recently reports have implicated
that Taylor and former Michigan star
Chris Webber accepted up to $100,000
from a Detroit booster.
"Taylor will probably be drafted, but I
couldn't care less," Blake said. "I haven't
really seen him play."
"I think it's a joke, but somebody
might take him?'
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