University of Michigan head coach John Beilein announced today (Friday, April 24) junior forward DeShawn Sims (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) and sophomore guard Manny Harris (Detroit, Mich./Redford HS) will return for the 2009-10 season."In order to address the speculation around DeShawn and Manny’s future we are announcing that both these young men have decided to continue their respective educational paths here at the University of Michigan," said Beilein. "Since the completion of our season we have gathered enough information for everyone to feel good about this decision. I am anxious to see their continued growth and I am excited to coach these two, as well as the rest of the team next season."
"I have decided to stay at the University of Michigan to not only work towards finishing my degree, but to continue working on my game," said Sims. "I am on schedule to graduate next May and that is going to be a very special moment for me. With Coach Beilein here I can see myself growing even more mentally, physically and athletically. There is a lot of excitement surrounding next season and we really want to take the next step in restoring the proud tradition of Michigan basketball on the national level."
"I have decided to stay in school and continue to work on my University of Michigan degree," said Harris. "This decision will also allow me to work hard at becoming an even more complete basketball player. We had a good season and I really enjoyed making the NCAA Tournament with my teammates. We really want to build a great program here at Michigan and we are on that path. The turnaround from my freshman year to my sophomore was big and I feel we will continue to do even more."
Sims and Harris were instrumental in helping U-M post its 22nd 20-plus win season (21-14) and make its 21st appearance in the NCAA Tournament this past season. The "Motor City Duo" led U-M in almost every statistical category and combined to score 1,130 points this season, which is the 12th best for a U-M duo in a single season.
Throughout his third season, Sims showed continual improvement, averaging a career-best 15.4 points and career-best 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 50.5 percent from the field. He was named an All-Big Ten second teamer by the Big Ten media and a third team selection by the Big Ten coaches, and became the 23rd U-M junior and the 44th Wolverine to score 1,000 points after posting his first 500-plus point season (540).
Sims led U-M with 30 games scoring in double figures and had a career-best 29 points against Purdue on Feb. 26. He had five double-doubles, including posting the first 20/20 game in 31 years after having exactly 20 points and 20 rebounds against Florida Gulf Coast (Dec. 22).
Harris, who was an All-Big Ten first team selection by the Big Ten coaches and media, recorded career bests in almost every statistical category in his second season. Harris led U-M in scoring (16.9), rebounding (6.8), assists (4.4), steals (1.2), minutes (32.9), three-point field goals (52) and free-throw percentage (86.3 percent). He scored 590 points during the campaign to become the sixth U-M sophomore, 27th Big Ten sophomore and 43rd Wolverine to eclipse 1,000 career points.
Harris, who posted six double-doubles, was one of two Big Ten players to rank among the top 10 in scoring, rebounding and assists. He also earned Academic All-Big Ten and U-M Athletic Academic Achievement honors and was a Wooden Award Mid-Season Top 30 candidate.
