Michigan basketball signs Tim Hardaway Jr. and Evan Smotrycz in early signing period

The 2010-11 schedule isn’t set and Evan Smotrycz isn’t on Michigan’s campus, but his parents are already looking for flights from their Massachusetts home to Ann Arbor to watch their son play.

As Smotrycz became one of two high school players - Tim Hardaway Jr. is the other - to officially sign letters of intent with Michigan’s basketball team Wednesday, he said his parents are trying to get a jump on things.

“My sister is a junior at Northeastern,” Smotrycz said by cell phone on his way to a game at Harvard. “So they don’t really have much to do and they love watching me play, so they are going to try to come to a lot of my games.”

This has been standard operating procedure for the Smotrycz family for the past year anyway since the 6-foot-9 forward left Reading, Mass. to head 90 minutes away to New Hampton (N.H.) School.

Doing so made Smotrycz a better player - he specifically cited an increased accuracy in his shooting - and a more mature person. Ranked 52nd nationally by Rivals.com, Smotrycz lives on campus and fends for himself academically and athletically.

Calling it a “little taste” of college a couple years early, Smotrycz’ game has grown since New Hampton coach Pete Hutchins saw him at Reading Memorial. Even when Hutchins tried convincing him to go play at New Hampton, he saw similar things to what Michigan coach John Beilein saw - potential out of a 6-9 forward who could pass, dribble and shoot like a guard.

“Evan was someone you saw the potential,” Hutchins said. “We continue to say you see the potential. It’s going to be a big jump to playing in the Big Ten, it is for any high school kid, but we certainly thought he could be that good.”

So did Beilein. Smotrycz averaged 14 points and eight rebounds last year at New Hampton. What Beilein liked most - and it is also how Smotrycz described himself as a player - is his versatility.

He’ll likely fit into Beilein’s system in both the 3 and 4 slots, meaning he knows he needs to gain size if he’ll defend some of the Big Ten’s bigger forwards.

“Evan can play three different positions for us,” Beilein said in a statement. “It is his versatility, great size and shooting ability which we like. Being 6-9, it is rare to see someone shoot it like he does.

“But what I really like is that he is an exceptional passer. His potential is outstanding.”

Shooting is also what attracted Beilein to the other, more well-known member of Michigan’s early recruiting class.

Tim Hardaway Jr., the son of NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, is a 6-foot-5 forward who Beilein envisions playing multiple positions for Michigan.

Hardaway, a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, started the past two seasons at Palmetto High in Miami and averaged 23.4 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists last season. The look of his shot is already being compared to the guy he might end up replacing - junior guard Manny Harris.

“He has a pretty jump shot,” Beilein said. “If you look at Manny’s jump shot right now, it is perfect, and Tim’s is pretty close to that point early with his development. It’s got great form, great spin and has a chance to go in every time.

“He is a very athletic player.”

Michigan is still in play for Mt. Pleasant forward Trey Zeigler, the son of Central Michigan coach Ernie Zeigler, but Trey Zeigler said on his Twitter account that he won’t be announcing until the spring signing period.

TIM HARDAWAY JR. HIGHLIGHT REEL:

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.