Glenn Robinson III was merely a freshman with a name that spoke for itself as this time last year.

The son of former NBA veteran Glenn Robinson, he was a late-bloomer in high school who Michigan coach John Beilein recruited before his profile caught up with his name.

That’s all very different this year. The younger Robinson is now a projected NBA lottery pick and the focus of growing folklore.

Michigan assistant Jeff Meyer related the latest of Robinson's can-you-believe-it feats on Tuesday morning. During an interview with WTKA's Michigan Insider, Meyer explained that U-M players' vertical leaps are measured on a Vertec. The apparatus is a straight pole with movable tabs on one side. Players jump alongside the pole, reaching for the highest tab they can touch. The highest tab moved accounts for the individual's vertical leap.

Michigan’s Vertec measures up to 12 feet, 3 inches.

Michigan needs a new Vertec.

“We’ve not had anybody inside our program get all 12 feet, 3 inches -- that was until Glenn Robinson,” Meyer said.

Robinson stands 6-feet, 6-inches tall. He has an expansive wingspan, but is not a pterodactyl. He's always had a lengthy reach and shake-your-head leaping ability (just ask Minnesota). This latest feat, though -- reaching 12-foot-3 on the Vertec -- is a product of Robinson's offseason work.

“His body has matured,” Meyer said. “He’s worked very, very diligently."

Meyer added that Robinson spent some of the offseason working with fellow assistant LaVall Jordan, U-M’s guards coach. That's paid dividends as well.

“In July, we kind of shifted around and allowed the best point guard coach in the country to work with Glenn with his ballhandling and Val did a great job of putting him through a series of skill development drills,” Meyer said. “Glenn on his own has really worked hard at that area -- putting the ball on the floor.”

Meyer added that Robinson’s shooting and assertiveness have improved as well.

The praise mirrored that delivered last week by ESPN.com national writer Jeff Goodman. Following a preseason tour of Kansas, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Oklahoma State, Goodman called Robinson "the most impressive player of anyone I saw."

Goodman continued ...

“The questions regarding the son of the ‘Big Dog’ were about his perimeter shot and ability to put the ball on the floor. Robinson buried deep jumper after deep jumper and appears far more comfortable at the 3-spot in John Beilein's offense. It’s still yet to be determined whether this aspect of his skill set will translate in games, but it's a good sign with Robinson more assertive on the offensive end.

“If he can gain a consistent jumper to go with his athleticism, he'll almost certainly be a lottery pick.”

Robinson played 33.6 minutes per game as a freshman, averaging 11.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He shot 57.2 percent from the field, but just 32.4 percent from 3-point distance.

Following former Michigan point guard Trey Burke’s departure to the NBA, Robinson will see some ball screen action as a sophomore and have the opportunity to operate off pick and rolls.

That freedom will afford more scoring chances both on penetration and on the perimeter.

That, and plenty of dunks.

“You build your own confidence when you develop your skill set and we’ve seen that with Glenn, no question,” Meyer said. “A year ago he was asking permission to do what he could do with the ball, skill-wise. This year, through the first 15 practices, he’s certainly been more aggressive. I think that’s just a byproduct of his work.”