After Darius Morris slipped to the 41st pick of the NBA Draft on Thursday night, Michigan coach John Beilein still has never had a player drafted in the first round.

Beilein doesn’t see it that way.

“He was the first pick of the Los Angeles Lakers of the 2011 draft," Beilein said during a break at the Michigan team camp on Friday. "That’s pretty good.”

The Lakers didn’t have a first-round pick. Morris, who left Michigan after his sophomore season, was their first of four second-round selections.

“Although I’m sure he had his sights set on the first round, in the long run, he’s going to have a great opportunity,” Beilein said.

Beilein said the opportunity to play for one of the most storied franchises in NBA history, in his hometown of Los Angeles, isn’t something that’s lost on Morris.

“Darius is home, too. He’s very comfortable there,” Beilein said. “He will attack this opportunity. That’s his mindset and it always is. When he’s given an opportunity, he goes after it with everything he has and I expect him to do no different.”

Beilein has been in close contact with Morris for the past week. Though he hasn’t spoke to Morris since being drafted, a congratulatory text message was sent to his former point guard immediately following the pick.

Morris texted back, “thank you very much, coach.”

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.