charles bediako

I'll get to analysis from the tourney run—later. For now, I'm ready to take stock of the roster and look at the many different possible ways it could shape up for next year. Let's start with next season's scholarship chart with zero projected departures, which I'll say right now isn't gonna happen, but it's a good jumping-off point.

Remember: every senior has the option to return because of the COVID year exemption. Juwan Howard says they're all welcome back. Michigan could technically carry 18 scholarship players because returning seniors won't count against the 13-scholarship limit next season. But again, this isn't gonna happen:

Michigan is right at the limit for 2021-22, though attrition is generally a guarantee. There's no way the team is going to carry 18 scholarship players; even if professional careers weren't under consideration, playing time would be. Today, I'm going to go through the upcoming decisions and how they'll impact the program's outlook for next season. Later this week, I'll toy around with potential rosters and lineup combinations.

[Hit THE JUMP for decisions, decisions, decisions.]

Michigan is very likely to finish the 2021 cycle with the number one recruiting class in America with no further additions. Michigan currently sits at 69.44 points on the 247 team composite rankings. With Kobe Bufkin likely to get a solid rankings bump and Moussa Diabate probably getting a slight nudge upward, this class is likely to finish right around the 70 point mark. In four of the last five cycles, the number one class has hovered around the aforementioned 70 point threshold, so that's a fair barometer.

Michigan's current hold on the number one spot is so commanding that both Duke and Kentucky would need to add two 5-stars to their 2021 classes in order to surpass the Wolverines. 

With a star-studded 2021 class signed, the staff is turning the majority of their efforts to the 2022 class, while keeping the door open for adding another 2021 prospect. 

The Latest on 2021 Big Charles Bediako

Top-30 big Charles Bediako has seemingly been an Alabama lean for months now, but the early-singing period came and went without the Canadian inking his NLI with the Crimson Tide. It was widely expected that Bediako would eventually verbal to Nate Oats in December/January/February, but that has not come to fruition either. Given the prolonged recruitment and in the absence of the NLI/verbal commitment, things may be a bit more open here than initially thought. 

Bediaiko went on-record with Rivals over the weekend to say that things will be ending very soon:

"I know I said I was supposed to commit in January," Bediako said. "You know, stuff happened. I could commit at any moment now, but it will be at the latest March. Everyone will know by March."

In the same piece, Charles credits Juwan Howard as the primary factor in favor of Michigan, while also acknowledging that having a former AAU teammate in Caleb Houstan doesn't hurt things. 

"Coach (Juwan) Howard is a big reason they’re in there. I feel like he could develop me, help me get to the next level. One of my teammates, Caleb Houstan, committed there so that is also cool. They are great people."

I checked in with multiple sources over the weekend on where things stand with Bediako currently. You may recall that one of my Michigan sources claimed the Wolverines were on solid ground here despite the Alabama chatter back in October. I'm once again told the Wolverines remain in the hunt and are active in this recruitment.

Checking in with Alabama sources, I'm told Nate Oats and crew are no longer "cocky" and that Michigan is a "viable option" in their view. That is a far cry from where things stood just one month ago.

While I'm not overly optimistic that Bediako will ultimately land in Ann Arbor, there is now reason to believe that it is at least a possibility. Adding a prospect of this caliber would alleviate any concerns regarding the center position and provide a legit 7-footer that projects as an elite rim-protector. A trio of Bediako, Diabate and Dickinson would likely give Michigan the most imposing defensive frontcourt in the B10 (and perhaps the country). But to keep things in perspective, this would be icing on the cake rather than a necessity. 

[Hit THE JUMP for the latest on 2022, including a new offer]

This recruiting update serves as a mere appetizer to Brian's forthcoming column of Michigan's drubbing of Wisconsin last night, where the Wolverines held a forty(!) point lead midway through the second half. But what an appetizer it is, with Frankie Collins making a statement on the big stage, Caleb Houstan looking college-ready(!!) and the number one recruiting class in America moving up(!!!) the rankings.

Collins Takes on Bates

All eyes were on Frankie Collins as his Air Nado squad took on #1 overall prospect Emoni Bates and Ypsi Prep on Sunday night in Dallas. With '21 offer Jaden Hardy opting out of the season, this was an opportunity to see what Collins looked like as the undisputed number one option on the team, and he did not disappoint.

Frankie carved up the Ypsi Prep defense early in the first quarter, forcing several fouls and compelling YP to opt for a zone defense to preclude Collins' dribble penetration. The future Michigan PG was relatively quiet for the remainder of the first half before going bonkers in the second stanza, finishing with a game-high 28 points while dishing out 6 assists and nearly leading Air Nado to a come-from-behind victory.

In a game featuring the aforementioned Bates and no less than six more high-major prospects on the court at all times, Collins was the best player on the court by a fairly wide margin. He was electric in the open court, converting at the rim with explosion and sudden euro-steps, but his shot creating ability in half-court settings is what popped out from an evaluation perspective. Frankie was superb at navigating through traffic, collapsing the YP defense and finding teammates on dumpoffs and kickouts. His six assists don't do his playmaking justice. 

Collins is going to be physically ready to compete for playing time the day he sets foot on campus in Ann Arbor. His athleticism and playmaking ability for others means that he may crack the rotation early on, and depending on the status of Smith or potential transfers, may even find himself as a guy that plays more than 10 minutes a game as a freshman. While his jumper remains an area for improvement, you simply don't find may players with Frankie's level of spatial awareness and passing. 

[Hit THE JUMP for new film on Caleb Houstan, updated rankings and 2021 tidbits]