Sophomore forward
Chatman to transfer
By ORION SANG
Summer Managing Sports Editor
Close to two months ago, Kam
Chatman hit a game-winning
three pointer against Indiana
that propelled the Michigan
men’s basketball team to the Big
Ten Tournament semifinals and
the NCAA Tournament.
It appears that will be the
most memorable moment of the
sophomore forward’s career in
Ann Arbor.
As first reported by ESPN’s Jeff
Goodman and later confirmed
by
the
athletic
department,
Chatman
will
transfer
from
Michigan. He becomes the third
member of the 2014 recruiting
class to leave, joining Ricky
Doyle and Aubrey Dawkins. His
decision leaves the Wolverines
with
two
open
scholarships
for the 2016-17 season and a
noticeable lack of depth at the
forward position.
“Kam is a wonderful young
man with the potential to mature
into a fine college player,” said
coach John Beilein in an official
press release. “We have enjoyed
coaching him over the past two
years and wish him nothing but
the best.”
Added Chatman: “I honestly
don’t think I could have had a
more quality life experience
than I did in Ann Arbor. I am
incredibly grateful for my two
years at Michigan. I would
like to thank Coach Beilein
and his entire staff for taking
a chance on a small town kid
out of Portland. I know my
experience has inspired others
as I will take all of my lessons
learned to continue my pursuit
of becoming the best man and
player I can.”
Chatman came to Ann Arbor
as a much-ballyhooed recruit,
ranked by ESPN as the No. 38
player in his class.
He quickly earned a starting
position at the beginning of his
freshman year. But as the season
went on, he found less and less
playing time, and by the time the
2015-16 season rolled around, he
had fallen behind other players
in Beilein’s bench rotation.
After playing in 32 games and
starting 15 while averaging 15.2
minutes per game his freshman
season, Chatman played in 28
games his sophomore season but
started just two of them while
averaging 7.2 minutes per game,
a sharp decrease from his first
season.
“(Kam) spent the first two
years (spending) a lot of time
sitting down in the bench with
us,” Beilein said in the aftermath
of the Indiana game. “But he’s
‘Yes sir, no sir,’ working hard
every single day, trying to grow
his game. And for him to be
rewarded with that big shot, with
that moment that he will always
be remembered for, is worth it
for me knowing he has done such
a great job of handling all of his
adversity of not playing.’’
And for better or worse, that
shot that saved the Wolverines’
season will be a reminder of what
Chatman’s career at Michigan
could’ve been.
LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/Daily
Kam Chatman becomes the third member of the 2014 recruiting class to tranfer from Michigan.
Michigan to hire
Donlon, Washington
By JACOB GASE
Daily Sports Editor
After
losing
two
assistant
coaches to head coaching jobs,
the Michigan men’s basketball
team’s coaching staff makeover is
underway.
In a move
first
reported
by the Detroit
News
and
ESPN’s
Jeff
Goodman and
later confirmed
by the athletic
department,
Michigan
coach
John
Beilein has hired Oakland assistant
coach
Saddi
Washington
and
former Wright State head coach
Billy Donlon to fill the vacancies on
his staff.
The coaching change is the first
for the Wolverines in six years,
with Beilein and assistants LaVall
Jordan, Bacari Alexander and
Jeff Meyer making up a steady
foundation that guided Michigan
to
five
NCAA
Tournament
appearances. But, pursuing what
Beilein
called
“long
overdue”
opportunities, Jordan accepted the
head coaching job at Milwaukee
a month ago, and Alexander was
hired by alma mater Detroit two
weeks later.
“We are forever grateful for
the fine work that LaVall Jordan
and Bacari Alexander brought
to our program over the past six
years,” Beilein said in an official
statement.
“Their
departures,
however, have opened up a
great opportunity for our staff
to grow. Billy Donlon and Saddi
Washington are exactly who I felt
we needed to be able to continue
our success and compete for more
Big Ten championships.”
Beilein had mentioned in recent
weeks that he would be looking
for fresh ideas and defensive-
minded coaching from his new
assistants, and he hopes Donlon
and
Washington
can
provide
exactly that.
Both new hires also bring
a wealth of experience to the
table. Washington, who played at
Western Michigan, has served on
Oakland’s staff for 10 years and
has worked as both the recruiting
coordinator
and
post
players
specialist. Recently, he helped
Oakland
land
under-recruited
5-foot-9 guard and Detroit native
Kay Felder, who led the nation in
assists last season and was fourth
in scoring before declaring for the
NBA Draft this offseason.
“Saddi
and
I have known
each
other
since his days
at
Western
Michigan
when I coached
against
them,”
Beilein
said.
“We have also
talked a lot of
basketball in my nine years at
Michigan. Saddi is an outstanding
teacher of the game, and I love that
he can coach multiple positions.
“He
has
established
great
relationships as a recruiter both in
and out of the state of Michigan.
His poise and presence remind me
of LaVall, and I know he will be a
great asset to our program.”
Donlon, meanwhile, spent 10
seasons at Wright State, working
as an assistant coach for four years
before being promoted to head
coach in 2010. As head coach,
Donlon led the Raiders to a 109-94
record but was fired in March. Like
Washington, he crossed paths with
Beilein as a player when his alma
mater, UNC-Wilmington, played
against Beilein’s Richmond teams
in the late 1990s.
“I have known Billy for almost
two decades, and I love his passion
and IQ for the game,” Beilein said.
“He has tremendous experience as
a player, assistant and head coach at
the Division I level. Improving our
defense is a huge goal for us, and
defense is one of Billy’s specialties.
He is also excellent in skill
development, and that has been a
key to our success at Michigan.”
The announcement came as
the first incoming move in what
has been an offseason of attrition
for the Wolverines. In addition
to the departures of Jordan
and Alexander, Michigan lost
four players as transfers: senior
guard Spike Albrecht (Purdue),
sophomore guard Aubrey Dawkins
(Central Florida), and sophomore
forwards Kameron Chatman and
Ricky Doyle (undecided).
MEN’S BASKETBALL
“His poise and
presence remind
me of Lavall.”
10
Thursday, May 5, 2016
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
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