BUTTE — Michael Haverfield is back.
The Dillon senior missed the majority of last season with a broken wrist on his shooting hand, but he’s returned to the court better than ever.
“It really made me push myself over the offseason to get better and better, because I had a whole season off and I had to get better than everyone else, so I had to really push myself,” Haverfield said.
“He’s able to kind of take it to the basket, I believe, with a little bit more authority and a little bit more aggressiveness,” Dillon head coach Terry Thomas said. “He’s a little bit stronger, little bit faster, little bit bigger. And then I like his decisions. He doesn’t take very many bad shots. His shot selection is really good. And for a player to have that type of skill and not force too many or be the person that has to shoot it is kind of the sign of his character, as well.”
Haverfield has been the top scorer for the Beavers, averaging just over 21 points a night. He’s always been a knockdown shooter, but it’s the improvement in the rest of his game that has elevated him to new heights.
“He’s got all the skills that you need as an offensive player. He can handle the basketball, he can shoot it from the outside, he’s got good driving skills, he’ll rebound, he’s very unselfish,” Thomas said. “He just has such an all-around good game, and he’s got nice length to him. He’s worked very hard at it. He’s spent a lot of time in the gym working on his skills and it’s on display this year. He’s playing really well.”
Montana Western saw what it had in its hometown product, and in October, Haverfield committed to the Bulldogs, where he’ll join former teammate and brother, Tanner.
“That’s pretty special. Both of them have been very important to our program, very important to Dillon,” Thomas said. “And hopefully they’ll continue that process at Western. To see them be able to play together, too, in their hometown like that, that’s a lot of fun for everybody in Dillon. We’re excited about it. And they’ve earned it, both those boys have earned that.”
“High school was a ton of fun with him,” Haverfield said. “It’s going to be so much fun playing with him again. Just with how we are together, we play a different kind of ball when we’re together.”
