LaVell Blanchard was in Happy Valley as a high school senior. He toured the campus, talked with coaches and players and had Penn State on his short list.

Then, one of the most sought after prospects ever to come out of Ann Arbor, Mich., slighted the Penn State men's basketball team and chose to stay close to home and attend Michigan.

The 6-foot-7 sophomore is now the leader of a Wolverines team that has seen its share of struggles on and off the court.

Blanchard is the only star player remaining from a recruiting class that also boasted Las Vegas high school star Kevin Gaines and current Chicago Bulls guard Jamal Crawford. He is the man behind the Wolverines offense and has been named Big Ten Player of The Week twice in his second year with Michigan.

And even though Blanchard is one of the top players in the Big Ten, Michigan men's basketball coach Brian Ellerbe said he still has some things to work on before he is a complete player and ready for the next level.

"Sometimes we misconstrue talent with guys who are talented on the offensive end," the coach said. "He's still a young kid."

Ellerbe added that Blanchard needs to work on fundamentals, especially on the defensive end, where the young star needs to improve on his lateral movement and foot quickness. And even though Blanchard is Michigan's main threat, the Wolverines coach added that his ball-handling and overall strength needs to improve for Blanchard to be a complete player.

Blanchard was tabbed the No. 1 senior in the country before his final season at Pioneer H.S. in Ann Arbor by the top high school talent evaluator in the country, Bob Gibbons. During his high school career, Blanchard wasn't as successful as many of the top recruits usually have been in the past -- until his final year. The swingman led his high school squad to the state championship game and started to receive the phone calls from all the top schools.

But he decided to stay in his hometown.

He came to Michigan bringing an excitement that hasn't been felt since the days of the Fab Five in the early '90s.

The former Gatorade National Player of the Year has lived up to his billing in the Wolverines uniform as he has scored double digits in all but two games and is averaging 18.5 points and just under eight rebounds per game.

And in the Big Ten, you have to be talented to put up those kinds of numbers. Especially when every coach and player know that you are the main man when Michigan comes to town.

Blanchard has definitely gained Penn State men's basketball coach Jerry Dunn's respect and other conference coaches who mention the sophomore in the same breath as the best players in the league this season.

"LaVell Blanchard is a tough matchup for anyone," the sixth-year Lions coach said.

"If you look at his stats and the way he's been playing, it's not an easy matchup for anyone."