Michigan announced that Bacari Alexander would be filling the vacant assistant coaching position on Saturday afternoon. In the spirit of baseball season I’ll stick go with a baseball analogy to describe the Bacari Alexander hiring and call it a bases clearing double.
Alexander isn’t a big name assistant coach from a high major program but he is a perfect fit for what Michigan needs. The hiring might not “wow” you but it’s a very solid choice. Alexander is young, passionate, hungry, and ready to make a name for himself.
Alexander’s experience coaching big men and connections with a number of folks currently on the Michigan staff should make for an easy transition. Alexander will be pitted with the task of developing Jordan Morgan, Blake McLimans, Evan Smotrycz, and Jon Horford. he certainly has a tough task ahead considering that none of Michigan’s bigs have played a single game of division basketball.
Alexander is ready to hit the ground running and calls Michigan his “dream job”. He has recruiting ties to Michigan and Ohio which is necessary. Michigan is obviously important but Ohio has also churned out a ridiculous amount of talent over the last several years. Alexander and Jackson should make a very dynamic team of in-state recruiters, especially in their native Detroit.
We will likely find out a lot more about Alexander’s recruiting abilities as the summer progresses but he certainly seems to have right attitude, judging by this quote:
“I’m a grass-roots guy. I’ve done very well in recruiting the national urban areas of the United States, let alone Detroit,” Alexander said. “I’m a PSL product and a lot of times it helps with regards to recruiting because people tend to embrace their own. So that can be, that has been an advantage.
Michigan was in the market for a third assistant which means that any high profile names were off the radar. You are looking for a guy who wants to put in work and won’t hesitate to use a little bit of elbow grease. Alexander fits the bill and I can’t see any reason to complain about the hire.
Elsewhere: Alexander was on WTKA this morning with Sam Webb. Jalen Rose endorses the hire on Twitter. Mike Rothstein asks Alexander 5 questions about being a Globetrotter and one about Perry Watson. Tim shares his thoughts over at MGoBlog. Alexander is in the CollegeInsider Fashionable Four once again.
