text: Stauskas Couldn't Go Wrong With U-MSam Webb03/26/2011Southborough (Mass.) St. Mark's wing Nick Stauskas completed Michigan's 2012 class Saturday when he verbally committed to the Maize & Blue. The newest Wolverine pairs a deft shooting touch with a deceptive off the dribble game to give John Beilein another scoring threat in his growing arsenal. A decision that had been contemplated for months was officially reached Saturday when Southborough (Mass.) St. Mark's combo guard Nick Stauskas finally pledged to Michigan. "The last few days I've just been talking with my family and my coaches and we thought it was definitely the best thing for me," Stauskas explained. "I just can't go wrong with going to Michigan. Their style of play fits me, I have a great relationship with Coach Beilein and all of the other coaches, and it'll give me a great opportunity to come in and make an impact right away with Stu Douglass and Zack Novak leaving. It's just really a great situation all the way around for me. And it's close to home."
  The same factors almost led to the versatile wing's commitment last October, but he decided to take more time to further weigh his options and concentrate on his senior season. He went on to average 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists for a St. Mark's team that finished 27-3. Meanwhile, a great deal changed on the floor for the Wolverines. The Maize & Blue turned in an improbable season, finishing fourth in the Big Ten and making the NCAA tournament. As it turns out, that success definitely increased their allure.
  "When I saw them play against Duke and they brought it down until the very last second, I was like, 'this team really has a chance to be special'," said Stauskas. "They've got two young guys, Darius Morris and Tim Hardaway Jr. that are potential NBA prospects, so they've definitely got a lot of great players on their team."
  The Michigan coaching staff was more than happy to reap the dividends of Stauskas' recent epiphany. For group that over the years has fought hard for a number of key recruits before losing out at the very end, back to back days in which they landed top targets almost seemed too good to be true. "I kind of hinted to Coach Bacari Alexander that I was thinking Michigan and that I was close to committing," Stauskas recalled. "Coach Beilein was the first one that I actually told that I was coming. At first he started laughing and he asked me if I was serious. I told him yeah. He was just real happy and he was excited."
  Michigan's headman is understandably giddy after securing a verbal from a prospect with offers from Oklahoma State, Stanford, Butler, Wake Forest, Iowa State, and strong interest from Kansas.
  The talented youngster is confident that he can be another key ingredient in the Wolverines' winning recipe as early as his freshman year. "They have me playing mostly the two and the three, but they said I can spend a little time at the one," stated Stauskas. " I'm definitely a guy who can shoot the ball and spread the floor. I like to see myself as a guy that has unlimited range when I step on the floor. I'm also a guy who can get to the basket, penetrate, and not only create for myself, but create for others. I'm just a hard worker. I love playing basketball and I'll do whatever it takes to win."
  The three-star wing joins Saint John (IN) Lake Central forward Glenn Robinson III in Michigan's 2012 class, exhausting the scholarship allotment for that year unless there are early departures.