John Beilein said Tim Hardaway Jr. has embraced his role as being a lead player for Michigan. 

Hardaway Jr. is beginning his sophomore season.

Trey Burke has been rapidly improving and the freshman may end up starting at point guard for Michigan.

The other choice at the position is senior Stu Douglass.

Darius Morris was Michigan's starter at point guard last season.

Jordan Hare has verbally committed to Rhode Island.

"It wasn't a case of wanting to make a decision so I wouldn't have to worry about it during the season," Hare said. "Everything just felt comfortable when I went to Rhode Island.

"I liked the coaches, the system, the school. I had no problem seeing myself playing there."

Hare also had offers from Michigan and Michigan State, along with several other schools.

Some of the comfort level comes from Rhode Island assistant coach Preston Murphy, a Saginaw native who played for Nouvel Catholic Central and Rhode Island.

"Rhode Island has been kind of recruiting me since ninth grade, so there was that familiarity," Hare said. "Plus Coach Murphy is from Saginaw, so that made it even more comfortable."

Hare averaged 19 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks per game during his junior season.

Hare said Rhode Island coach Jim Baron did not tell him what position to focus on during his senior season.

"His system is that they find the best place for your skills, instead of trying to change your skills to fit into a position," Hare said. "They'll work with me and play me where I can best help the team.

"I love their system. Defensively, they pressure on every possession and they run. It's a lot like how we play in Saginaw."

Mitch McGary, the top power forward in the 2012 class, has narrowed his choices down to Michigan, Duke and North Carolina.

McGary has taken visits to those three schools and will not be making any additional visits to other schools.

"I know there are a lot of rumors out there that I've already committed to certain schools, but I can honestly tell you guys that I don't know where I want to go," he wrote. "I have not committed anywhere so that's just not true."

Michigan is considered the underdog, but are contenders.

"Michigan has been here to see me the second most and I know that Michigan will be good too. They're in the rebuilding stage and Coach (John) Beilein is another guy I really respect and like. They're moving up in the rankings too."

The Los Angeles Athletic Club has announced its Preseason Top 50 list today on ESPN.com. Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball media members, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball’s most prestigious honor.

Nineteen of the 50 players named were from two conferences, the Big East (10) and Big Ten (9). The SEC had seven players chosen, followed by the ACC, Big 12, and Pac-12 each with four; and the Atlantic 10, Big West and Conference USA with two each. Conferences with one players named include the Horizon League, Ivy League, MAAC, Missouri Valley, Mountain West and WCC.

For the first time, a school had four players listed as North Carolina had Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Kendall Marshall and Tyler Zeller selected.