Indiana Makes Top Five For Dayton Transfer Mike Sharavjamts

With one available scholarship, Indiana is in the running for Dayton transfer Mike Sharavjamts, a 6-foot-8 wing who's also considering Memphis, Nebraska, Pittsburgh and San Francisco after withdrawing from the NBA Draft.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Coach Mike Woodson mentioned the possibility of using Indiana's last scholarship on a player that withdraws from the NBA Draft, and one with Indiana interest became available Wednesday night.

Mike Sharavjamts, a 6-foot-8 wing, entered the transfer portal and declared for the NBA Draft following his freshman year at Dayton. He withdrew from the draft on Wednesday and announced a top-five list including Indiana, Memphis, Nebraska, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

As a freshman under coach Anthony Grant in 2022-23, Sharavjamts started 20 games and played 23.1 minutes for Dayton. He averaged 5.6 points, 2.6 assists and 1.9 rebounds with a 38.8 field goal percentage. Sharavjamts shot 31.5 percent from 3-point range on 92 attempts and 67.7 percent from the free throw line. He scored a season-high 15 points against BYU, making 3-of-7 3-pointers, and had three games with at eight assists.

"We're always looking," Woodson said Wednesday at Huber's Winery in Borden, Ind. "Based on a lot of the players tonight that might pull out, there might be a player that falls through the cracks. I'm watching it closely, and I'm always looking to better our team. If we can pick up someone based on who falls through the cracks, we'll pursue it and and see what happens."

Sharavjamts was a four-star recruit, ranked No. 93 in the class of 2022. Originally from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, he committed to Dayton out of Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby, Ohio. He chose the Flyers over offers from Eastern Washington, Providence and Rutgers, plus reported interest from Boston College, Clemson, Ohio State, Virginia Tech and Washington. Nicknamed "Mongolian Mike", Sharavjamts the first-ever Division I athlete from Mongolia.

Sharavjamts played AAU basketball alongside Indiana's class of 2023 point guard commit Gabe Cupps on Midwest Basketball Club, a team coached by Gabe's father Brook. David Jablonski of the Dayton Daily News talked with Brook about Sharavjamts back in 2021. 

"He's really, really good," Brook said. "I love Mike as a kid and as a player. His basketball IQ is off the charts. He understands the game. He anticipates. He sees the floor really well. At 6-8, he can deliver passes in windows that other guys can't, and that's by far his best attribute: his play making, his ability to get other guys shots and make the game easier for teammates. He rebounds it well. He's got great length and runs the floor. His perimeter game is improving I thought he was really good off his pull up and finishing around the basket."

While his numbers as a freshman at Dayton don't stand out on paper, Sharavjamts drew NBA interest because of his future potential. 

Here's what the SI NBA Draft Digest site wrote about Sharavjamts:

"Sharavjamts was measured at a quarter of an inch shy of 6-foot-9 at the Nike Hoop Summit, with an 8-foot-8 standing reach. The measurements are certainly intriguing for someone with the potential to shoot from the perimeter and run your offense on a primary level.

A virtually unknown prospect until the summer before the start of his senior year of high school, Sharavjamts had a breakout performance in the summer circuit which earned him a number of offers from high-major college programs.

The intrigue and buzz has a lot to do with his unique combination of skills and size. At nearly 6-foot-9, he can play as a jumbo point guard who is not just able to create for teammates, but also to space the floor with tremendous consistency, being a threat from beyond the 3-point line.

Dayton Flyers forward Mike Sharavjamts (55) shoots during game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Cassell Coliseum / Lee Luther Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Sharavjamts possesses a vast passing repertoire. He does all the simple things expected of a point forward, such as running the point in transition and making the right plays on drives with effective drive-and-kick passes, but also adds an advanced level of passing which is rare for a player of his size.

The Dayton prospect's main passing skill is being extremely quick to recognize advantages and having the technique and accuracy to find teammates with advanced passing deliveries. This allows him to be a solid decision maker off screens and make plays as a pick-and-roll handler, where his size allows him to pass over smaller defenders.

He is also elite in catch-and-shoot situations. Sharavjamts jumper looks extremely smooth, boasting a two-motion jumper with a high release point which allows him to shoot over defensive pressure. His jumper is extremely repeatable in his catch-and-shoot attempts, showcasing good alignment and aim. He wasn't an elite 3-point shooter as a freshman, but was respectable from deep."

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