Arriving in Ann Arbor this summer at 6-foot-10 with a gangly physique to match, Quinn Costello looked like a player who needed more than a couple reps to find his balance. Clearly, the basketball talent was there; the only question was if his physical stature was going to allow him to compete right out of the gate.
After the exhibition against Eastern Michigan, that question has a succinct answer: Yes.
But it’s not as though Costello was ready on day one. He and the staff knew his deficiencies, and according to Costello, they’re being addressed:
“The biggest jump I’ve (made has) been in the weight room,” Costello said. “I’ve gained around 13 or 14 pounds since I’ve been here. So just keep putting on muscle to deal with that physicality in the paint for Big Ten play; that’ll be crucial.”
Offensively, Costello didn’t depend too much on his physicality. Instead, he plays to his strengths. He’s one of the best 3-point shooters in the freshman class, and that shooting threat changes the balance of the floor.
“Quinn, as a catch-and-shoot guy, is a guy who can, again, put defenses in tough spots in three-man actions with Elliot and either Trey or Moustapha, or Trey and Moustapha in certain pick-and-roll situations; it’s going to be something that you see a lot of,” Michigan coach Mike Boynton Jr. said.
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