Hoops Recruiting And The Neverending Quest For 5-Stars
With a top 10 recruiting class in hand for 2021, Michigan is looking to put icing on the cake with a blue chip big and a 5-star perimeter prospect to close out the class. All the latest in this week’s roundup below.
Canadian Sharpshooter Anyone?
Consensus 5-star wing Caleb Houstan will announce a final four tomorrow. I’m told by a reliable source that Michigan is likely to make the cut along with Duke, Gonzaga and perhaps Virginia.
Houstan has played things close to the vest since reclassing to 2021 in July, so there hasn’t been a ton of information available on Michigan’s involvement. The current staff has been involved since at least May and Caleb acknowledged in his July SI blog that Michigan was among the schools pushing the hardest.
Originally from Toronto, it appears Houstan may have grown up a Michigan fan during the John Beilein years. So while he plays his HS ball at Florida powerhouse Montverde Academy, this recruitment doesn’t present the same sort of geographical challenges that have been exacerbated with the health crisis.
I’m not optimistic that Michigan will ultimately land Caleb based on recent history, but crack enough of these top lists and one will break our way at some point.
[After THE JUMP: most recent intel on remaining bigs]
Bediako To Cut List to Five
2021 five-star Charles Bediako will announce his final five schools on Saturday, he tells me.
— Tipton Edits (@TiptonEdits) October 6, 2020
Current Top 10: Duke, Alabama, Memphis, Tennessee, Michigan, Texas, Baylor, Maryland, Ohio State, USC. @CBediako
Michigan’s most pressing need is undoubtedly a legit center with Hunter Dickinson projected to be the only true 5 on the roster in 2021-2022. I’ve been a bit skeptical on the Wolverines’ chances with top 30 big Charles Bediako, but a reliable source on the Michigan side informed we were in solid position a few weeks back.
I did some digging yesterday and it appears Alabama may be in pole position here per one of my most reliable sources. In his first piece for 247, Eric Bossi labels Bediako an Alabama lean as well.
Seems to be a lot of Alabama smoke from multiple people despite the optimism from my Michigan source. I’d assume Jett Howard is in Charles’ ear, and that may give us a chance, but I just don’t get great vibes here. As I say though, recruiting is always fluid.
The Latest on Efton Reid
I’m told 4-star big Efton Reid will cut his list soon and the Wolverines are expected to be among the final group. The remaining finalists will likely be chosen from Ohio State, Pitt, Kentucky and Louisville.
I continue to hear Michigan is in solid position here, and perhaps in the top group of the five aforementioned schools, but a commitment is not imminent.
While I prefer Bediako for roster construction purposes (Bediako is the better defender to complement Dickinson), Reid would be a massive pickup that would give Michigan two legit post options on offense over the next 3-4 years.
Dad Making Things Tough
2022 4-star Jett Howard is a bit frustrated that his bloodlines may be preventing his recruitment from exploding.
“To be honest, it bothers me. Other opportunities can open up for me but having everyone just assuming I’m going to Michigan because of my dad kind of stops those, I think. Coaches just assume they know where I’m going before they know me.”
Howard acknowledges a functional top two of Michigan and Florida in the same piece, before providing the Michigan fluff and the obligatory “I’m still open” quote.
“I’m liking it a lot. Of course, my dad is the head coach but that’s not the only reason why I’m liking it. Obviously a lot of people think I’m going there, but I’m still open to a lot of other schools and a lot of other options.”
I wouldn’t consider myself the authority on recruiting, but I’m relatively comfortable in saying that Jett Howard will be in the 2022 class for Michigan. Hopefully he can bring a few of his IMG friends to Ann Arbor with him.
Happy Trails
5-star wing Harrison Ingram committed to Stanford a few weeks back. The staff did all they could in this recruitment and made up a ton of ground, but reservations about playing with Jett Howard and Mom’s preference for Stanford were too much to overcome.
October 6th, 2020 at 12:45 PM ^
- Caleb Houstan would be huge if we could get him. Elite shooting wing who could really open it up for the big guys and Frankie Collins driving inside. I assume he ends up at Duke though
- Can we just flat out acknowledge that whole SEC has expanded their bagmen into basketball? Bama, Auburn, Tennessee, Arkansas, LSU, Florida have all basically become recruiting power houses in the past handful of years after most of them basically not being relevant for a good amount of time
- Jett is not fooling anyone with that quote lol. He's incredibly close with the current roster and has been recruiting other players to Michigan on social media
October 6th, 2020 at 12:56 PM ^
A Duke class of:
- #1 Patrick Baldwin (100% crystal ball)
- #3 Paolo Banchero (committed)
- #6 AJ Griffin (committed)
- #8 Caleb Houston
- #16 Trevor Keels (100% crystal ball)
Would sure be something.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:16 PM ^
UK had #2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 18 in 2013 (including the #1 player at 4 of 5 positions) and #6, 9, 11, 15 & 23 in 2016
Duke also had #1, 2, 5, 15, 33 in 2018. How's that #33 Joey Baker doing?..lol Wonder if he's rethinking that decision a little.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:48 PM ^
Especially after Coach K, like the asshat he is, burned Baker's redshirt three-ish months into the season... so that he could play him for a grand total of 18 minutes.
October 6th, 2020 at 5:43 PM ^
This is how far this site has gone with the nonsense of redshirts? There are plenty of things to hate on coach k about but a fifth year that will never be used doesn't seem very high on the list.
October 6th, 2020 at 7:38 PM ^
If you think Joey Baker is an early-entry candidate at any point during his career, I have some oceanfront property in Iowa that you should totally buy sight unseen.
Plus, Baker reclassified from a 2019 to a 2018 under the impression that he’d get a redshirt.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:41 PM ^
Coach K see's the end of his career coming quickly and is desperate to get one last championship to go out on. I have no doubt the bagmen and everyone else linked to that program are doing everything possible to funnel the talent in as fast as possible for one last run.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:11 PM ^
Sure hope the SEC doesn't find hockey.
October 7th, 2020 at 8:36 AM ^
2nd bullet point: Amen!!
October 6th, 2020 at 12:47 PM ^
How do you weigh roster fit vs recruiting the best player available? I agree with you on the preference for Bediako over Reid, but would it make sense to recruit a defensive focused big that isn't rated as highly? Like say somewhere around #150. I can see the drawbacks to both. Recruiting for roster fit probably loses you some great talent whereas recruiting for skill can give you blindspots.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:23 PM ^
I've thought of this also and my highly uneducated logic went something like this:
- You want the best players where possible, so you go after both of the top-30 guys until you realize you're out of it.
- If there were another top-50 guy that fit your needs/fit and was somewhat interested....throw him an offer. But there isn't. All the top bigs are associated with a school besides the ones we're in on.
- You keep your eye out for those guys in the 80-150 range that might be a great compliment and you probably keep them warm without going after them hard. Looking through the recruiting databases....there aren't very many guys like that if there are any at all
- You work the transfer market.
In general I think true bigs are like offensive linemen - you need to recruit them every year, you need to be patient with their development, and you need enough of them to field 2.5 in your rotation while having diversity in skills is a bonus. We're in a tough spot with Castleton leaving early because he would have been a good rotation piece this year and allowed us time to recruit and develop depth. Next year we could have gone after more of a project and then swung for a five star the year after.
October 6th, 2020 at 4:07 PM ^
My rankings at EM are obviously based on individual talent in a vacuum as opposed to potential fit + talent. Just not practical to have a ranking metric that accounts for the various needs of 300+ programs.
As for Houstan, he's not a true 5star/top 10 talent IMO. Has the look of an elite shooter, but isn't a shot creator off the bounce and is an average athlete versus a set defense. Probably more of a high 4star/25-50 type for me. Much like Trevor Keels, but with more upside because of superior size and athleticism.
As for defensive minded big question, I totally agree with you. Unfortunately, its slim pickings for 2021. Just a very weak class in general, historically weak.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:07 PM ^
Come on, just one 5 star PLEASE
October 6th, 2020 at 1:14 PM ^
Its hard to do when you are fighting against blueblood powerhouses like Alabama, Auburn, Tenn, Stanford and Florida State.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:20 PM ^
Don't forget ASU, Texas and Cal.
October 6th, 2020 at 3:26 PM ^
Crap, I forgot them and L$U as well.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:23 PM ^
Blueblood???? I wouldn't call any of those school basketball powerhouses. Except for Stanford, i would say the Bagman is the only thing in common for those schools.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:24 PM ^
Thanks, Matt. Maybe we're due for a five star.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:27 PM ^
I know Houston isn't the playmaking wing this class and roster could really use - but I do like the fit as a floor spacing shooter that is likely around for at least two years. Unfortunately I don't see a reason to get my heart broken again so I assume he's going elsewhere.
I see where Jett's coming from. He thinks his play warrants the ranking and attention of all of these schools that he sees other top-50 guys getting.... But such is life. He'll be fine.
October 6th, 2020 at 4:09 PM ^
See my thoughts above on Houstan. In a nutshell I agree, he's overvalued as a 5star, but would be a great fit for this roster with Collins and Bufkin in the mix. I'd rather have an athletic wing that creates shots in the half court, but with the roster composition getting Caleb would be huge.
Need a legit big more than a wing at this point though. The 5star wing is more for our internal perception as opposed to what we functionally need from a roster standpoint.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:34 PM ^
Can we get a further explanation of this Harrison Ingram tidbit about "reservations about playing with Jett Howard"? Is this a personality thing because he assumes Jett is going to play at Michigan? Is Ingram worried about nepotism from Juwan coaching his sons? Do the two players have a history?
I just find that reasoning to be very bizarre.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:43 PM ^
I vaguely recall a previous update that speculated it was more that they play same position, same style of play and Ingram could be more the focus at Stanford. Can't say I fault the kid if he had some "all things equal, is the coach really gonna treat me as well as his own son?" thoughts that made him want to go elsewhere.
October 6th, 2020 at 3:34 PM ^
Meanwhile, Duke, UK and others can have eight 5 stars on their team and nobody has a problem with playing time at all. Hell, Florida State has 3 committed in this cycle and they all basically are the same size more or less.
Now, we have the very talented coaches son, who could essentially commit and help recruit others, is hell bent on proving he isn't all Michigan and will probably drag it out to get recruited by other schools. If you're a Michigan fan, you can't make this shit up, lol.
October 6th, 2020 at 4:10 PM ^
No personality clash issues at all. To simplify it, Ingram viewed Jett as a potential threat that may preclude him from being the #1 option and/or primary focus of the offense.
October 6th, 2020 at 5:41 PM ^
Ingram must think pretty highly of Jett then. Matt, I feel like we haven't heard much of an opinion from you on Jett?
October 6th, 2020 at 5:55 PM ^
I have yet to view him live, so I can't speak intelligently on Jett. Based on film, he looks to have good positional size with a very nice stroke.
I hope to see Jett later this month.
October 6th, 2020 at 5:46 PM ^
Interesting! Thank you, from one Matt to another.
October 6th, 2020 at 4:47 PM ^
It’s especially bizarre because he’s worried about a guy a year younger than him who isn’t committed and is currently not as highly regarded and 3 in shorter.
seem either like an excuse or some kind of negative recruiting from other teams
October 6th, 2020 at 5:03 PM ^
Now that it's over, I can say the staff wasn't necessarily in tears over Ingram choosing Stanford, in part of Ingram's potential issues playing with Jett. The staff didn't view Ingram as a 5star and I agree.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^
Some of these top groups are getting weird. I get that Bama's coach is an up and comer but to favor Bama over Duke is a new one.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:45 PM ^
The shoe companies realized it was too easy to get caught cheating when you only support 5-6 schools. They are diversifying their portfolio so to speak.
October 6th, 2020 at 3:37 PM ^
There isn't a better conference to diversify to if you want total acceptance than the SEC.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:56 PM ^
Jett wants those free official visit trips lol.
October 6th, 2020 at 5:03 PM ^
Probably just trying to get his tip sipped.
October 6th, 2020 at 1:57 PM ^
Here we go again with the bridesmaid trophy on another 5*.
October 6th, 2020 at 2:46 PM ^
Is it just me or does Efton Reid look like he's already played in the ABA for 3 years?
Want. Bring back the red white and blue ball while we're at it.
October 6th, 2020 at 3:14 PM ^
I personally would rather have Reid over Bediako.
Give me someone like Juwan Howard over Brent Petway any day.
October 6th, 2020 at 3:27 PM ^
Agreed, Bediako seems like a guy who could bolt to the NBA after a year or 2, while Reid seems more like a guy who could stick around for a few years and we'd get a better return on our investment
October 6th, 2020 at 9:02 PM ^
10,000% agree. The mutton chops & big hair look is legit.
October 6th, 2020 at 3:03 PM ^
These hoops recruiting posts never make me feel good about the state of Michigan basketball. It's great that a lot of talented players are being offered and are highly considering Michigan, but we get burned too often and that makes me uncomfortable with this stuff.
October 6th, 2020 at 3:17 PM ^
We'll land a 5-star eventually. Hell, we already did land a commitment; it's just unfortunate that he chose the G-league at the eleventh hour. Not quite sure what happened with Josh Carpenter.
October 6th, 2020 at 3:15 PM ^
It's always frustrating to lose out on a major target, but Stanford is perhaps the only Power 5/6 school that is academically superior to Michigan across the board. Can't blame a kid for not passing up the opportunity to earn a Stanford degree for free.
October 11th, 2020 at 7:16 PM ^
I loves me my Michigan, but if I was in his position...I ain't gonna lie...all other things being equal, I'd most likely do the same.
October 6th, 2020 at 8:17 PM ^
This class needs a shooter like Houstan and a big like Reid. If these two join the good guys Michigan can compete with anyone for an NC for the next several years.
October 6th, 2020 at 9:49 PM ^
My guess is that his top 4 will be Duke, Gonzaga, Alabama and Michigan
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