rodney rice

Michigan just completed its biggest visit weekend of the year with no less than seven top 100 prospects in attendance to witness the Wolverines come out victorious over in-state rival Michigan State. With the commitment of Jace Howard last month, it appeared the 2020 class was down to a final spot. But Michigan’s hot pursuit of multiple 5 stars along with fluidity in the scholarship status of Jace may translate to two openings.

The Big Fish

Consensus top 10 prospect Greg Brown hit campus for an official visit and tells me the possibility of teaming up with the high-end talent Michigan has coming in has captured his attention. A quote from my full article below captures that sentiment:

“Its intriguing, it would be a scary sight playing with those guys.”

In speaking with Greg, I didn’t get the vibe Michigan has catapulted to the top of his list, but the Wolverines certainly made a positive impression.

Juwan Howard entered the mix late here, but we’ve seen him close that gap and win races on prior occasion. The Wolverines were once considered an afterthought here, but I firmly believe Coach Howard has given Brown something to seriously consider at minimum.

That said, I still believe Brown ends up elsewhere as of today. Greg’s father played football for the Longhorns and his uncle suited up for the UT basketball team. Considering Kentucky, Auburn and Memphis round out the remainder of his final 5, it seems too much to overcome in tandem with being an out of region prospect.

[Ed-Ace: After Matt wrote up this post, Sam Webb published a long article on Josh Christopher's recruitment. While UCLA and Mizzou are both mentioned as contenders, Michigan and Arizona State, where Christopher's older brother plays, get most of the focus. In an encouraging sign, the brother factor is downplayed, and location apparently isn't an obstacle. Meanwhile, we get the biggest "Juwan Howard knows everybody" flex yet:

“Juwan is just a great dude,” Christopher said. “I think he is a real selfless person. He doesn’t have to be like that. He’s just a great person. He knows the game, (and) has great connections I’m sure. I think he texted Michael Jordan one day I was with him. I was like, ‘whoa, this is Jordan!’ He is just a really good dude, he wants to win like I do, and he knows the game.”

I need the inevitable Brendan Quinn 3000-word feature on Juwan Howard's contact list to hit sooner rather than later.]

New 2021 Offer

Farmington guard Jaden Akins took an unofficial visit Saturday and left campus with a scholarship offer in the aftermath. I caught up with Akins shortly after and he is definitely enamored with the style of play under Juwan Howard:

“I like their style of play. The way they get up and down and how Coach Howard lets you go if you prove you can do it.”

Jaden wasn’t really a priority under the previous regime, but this was his third time on campus since the Summer and things are obviously picking up. 

Your author has been advocating for Akins the last 2 years at this point. He was criminally undervalued until recently, as he’s now just outside the top 100 to both Rivals and 247. I would’ve placed him at 75ish last Summer, and with his recent play this year that may be too low as well.

With his combination of size, length, perimeter shotmaking and quick twitch athleticism, Jaden has a chance to shoot up into the top 50 with a strong Spring on the EYBL circuit with The Family.

Yes, please. 

[Hit THE JUMP for a roundup on other visitors and the latest on Isaiah Todd.]