Monday Recruitin' Awaits Test Scores
A Late Riser Emerges?
The young man you see above displaying a visceral hatred for rims is 2016 Grundy (VA) Mountain Mission SG/SF Harold Baruti, who at the moment looks like the most likely option to fill one of the two open basketball scholarships. Baruti came to Ann Arbor on an official visit last weekend, and it sounds like a scholarship offer is on the way as long as he clears an academic hurdle or two:
Per his HS coach, 2016 wing Harold Baruti has not yet received a scholarship offer from his OV to Michigan. But workout went "very well."
— Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn) May 5, 2016
Re. Michigan and 2016 wing Harold Baruti: Still no scholarship offer. U-M checking if he'll be cleared academically.
— Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn) May 9, 2016
Baruti, who moved to U.S. from the Democratic Republic of the Congo two years ago, also still needs to pass the TOEFL before U-M will offer.
— Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn) May 9, 2016
At 6'6", ~200 pounds, Baruti could provide much-needed depth on the wing. According to Quinn, Utah and Texas Tech are also showing late interest in Baruti, who holds scholarship offers from SMU, UNC-Wilmington, Utah State, and Tennessee Tech. While he doesn't look like the most polished prospect, he's got plenty of athleticism—he looks like a guy who could eventually fill the GRIII role of cutter/finisher who shoots just well enough on corner threes to keep defenses spaced out.
Speaking of wing depth, the just-released senior highlights of 2016 signee Ibi Watson are worth watching. While the highlight video caveat applies, he looks like a strong finisher and impressive passer; if he can hold his own on defense he can see a significant role right away as a backup at the two and the three.
In other hoops recruiting news, Michigan's offer has vaulted them into the top three for in-state 2017 SF Jamal Cain, per TMI's Josh Newkirk:
“(Michigan) is for sure top-three,” Cain said. “My top three, well, the schools that have been in contact the most have been Michigan, Marquette and Xavier.”
Cain mentioned academic support as something that stood out on his visit, and later said that factor is of significant importance in his decision, which should come during or after his senior season.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Columbus Opening Regional: M Targets Stand Out
Columbus hosted the latest regional for The Opening last weekend, and a lengthy list of Michigan targets were in attendance, as well as 2018 commit Leonard Taylor, who 247's Steve Wiltfong said looked good at tight end:
Springfield (Ohio) High Top247 tight end/defensive tackle and Michigan commit Leonard Taylor played offense at this camp. He’s not super fast but he's so big, has such soft hands and adds great body control for a guy his size.
One of the bigger surprises from the camp was the play of three-star Cass Tech OG Jordan Reid, who won position MVP honors and an invite to The Opening finals in a field loaded on the offensive line. Michigan is second among Reid's top five, behind only Florida, and a visit last week to Ann Arbor got an important person in M's corner, per Newkirk:
And Reid’s father, well, he “loved” what U-M had to offer during their stay, says Reid.
“My dad loved it, says it’s the best visit he’s been on so far,” Reid said of his father, adding: “I’m happy for him, I’m glad he got a feel for it. Obviously it opens his interest and my interest a little bit more.”
Reid said he's looking to get his mother on campus on a later visit. While Michigan trails for now, and Michigan State will also be a big factor, their position close to home could help them close on Reid.
Cass Tech cornerback Donovan Johnson also had a breakout camp performance, clocking a 4.43 40-yard dash before winning the camp's fastest man race. Johnson has Virginia Tech, Penn State, and West Virginia out in front, but he told Steve Wiltfong a certain offer would change the outlook of his recruitment:
So what offer would be a game-changer as we expect them to roll in?
“Michigan,” Johnson answered.
In the few chances I've had to see him play, Johnson's looked like a viable Michigan prospect; when he and LaVert Hill formed Cass Tech's corner duo, I thought Johnson was the more consistent player, and while he isn't as twitchy as Hill, he's got plenty of athletic ability.
Four-star OH TE Matt Dotson earned an invite to The Opening, and Michigan is one of three schools in best position to land him, per Wiltfong:
Closing in on a college decision, Michigan and Michigan State top the list with a decision expected prior to senior season.
“Those are the two schools when I went there I really enjoyed it and liked everything about it,” Dotson said.
Penn State is the third program in the mix and Dotson will visit there for the first time on May 21.
Dotson wants to "take a couple more visits" to those three schools before making a decision.
Commits Get Rankings Bump
247 updated their 2017 rankings last week, giving boosts to three Michigan commits. RB AJ Dillon is now 209th overall, CB Benjamin St-Juste went from a low to a high three-star, and LB Ben Mason got a slight bump in his rating.
Another recent riser, RB O'Maury Samuels, was the subject of an MLive feature, and he said he's not afraid of competition in the backfield:
"Me, it's just instincts, I'm an instinctive guy," Samuels said. "Whatever I see or feel is best for right now and what's about to happen, I'm going to do it. I just really think anywhere they put me, I can contribute. If they just want me to receive out of the backfield, I can do it. If they want me to run downhill, I can do it; I love running the ball. Everything about football I love."
This running back class features a couple really impressive athletes in Dillon and Samuels, who've both tested very well this camp season.
Etc.
Top-100 AL WR Nico Collins, who was supposed to visit for the Spring Game but had to cancel, made his way to campus last weekend. So far, this is what we've got as far as a reaction:
Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville 2017 four-star wide receiver Nico Collins told me he "loved" his visit to #Michigan pic.twitter.com/jrQbVTkBt5
— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) May 9, 2016
Sounds good. While it'll be tough to pry Collins away from Alabama, him paying his way to check out Ann Arbor is a promising sign.
Jay Harbaugh visited the nation's top-ranked prospect, CA RB Najee Harris, on Friday, per Steve Lorenz. Harris is a soft Alabama commit who's still being pursued by many of the top programs in the country, including Ohio State; Lorenz said he's hearing Michigan is one of the schools with a legitimate (if outside) shot at landing him.
Five-star CA WR Darnay Holmes told TMI's Brice Marich he'll "definitely" take an official to Michigan, and the Wolverines have a strong connection on campus already:
“[David Long is] pretty much my brother,” said Holmes. “We grew up together and he just says how crazy it would be if we both end up playing with each other! David on one side and myself on the other is dangerous. That's why I am considering (Michigan) and taking an official.”
M could have a decent shot here; Holmes doesn't have a top list in his recruitment so far and his Crystal Ball is split between Stanford, Nebraska, Arizona, and UCLA.
Hopefully Baruti gets his tests scores where they need to be to land an offer. I think Ibi Watson will give us solid minutes off the bench next year and be a solid player eventually, but Baruti would add some much needed depth on the wing.
Watson is Levert. They'll address different needs in the rotation.
Unless Michigan adds a grad transfer they need freshman backups at 3/4 (Baruti) and 2/3 (Watson). Unless Wilson successfuly transitions to the 4 (he'd be the first 5-man to ever make such a move under Beilein), you can argue Baruti is more needed.
was at the five out of need or because he couldn't yet contribute at the four.
I think Wagner was recruited as a four too. He looks like he'll stick at the five out of need, but it will be interesting to see what happens if Teske and Davis develop quickly. I think he could be Beilein's ideal four.
Failed 4s move to the 5. Donnal and Bielfelt weren't recruited to play the 5 exclusively either.
Two years ago we had just as much need at the 4 as the 5, maybe more, yet Wilson and Donnal couldn't earn playing time. Bielfeldt/Doyle got most of the minutes at the 5 while Chatman started at the 4 to begin the year. Dawkins played there too. This year Robinson enabled Irvin to bump out to the 4, but there was no reliable depth on the wing.
When projecting Wilson it's worth remembering that he was clearly behind our 3 transfers (Dawkins, Chatman, and Doyle) at both positions that he could feasibly play. If he could have helped, he would have played. He needs to make a major leap or else Michigan is going to continue to play small. Leaps happen, but shouldn't be expected.
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some skills Beilein could work with.
Any reason to think the TOEFL is an issue? That comment struck me as odd that he needed to pass that first. Maybe it is just my lack of understanding on how these things work...
I always read it as "Toe-Full," which always sounds like some weird intiation ritual involving toes.
half the kids on Ibi's team seem to have the same hair did.
also, I guess using a portion of your highlight reel on crowd reactions must be the new thing.
Could a redshirt freshman play his freshman year for the basketball team and still count as a redshirt for football? If so, perhaps some of these athletic big guys Harbaugh has coming in with no immediate home could help the basketball team out.
Kelvin Grady did it. Don't see your scenario happening though. Beilein needs to find his own players.
Yes, I know the 4 position is still a "wing" in Beilein's offense, and as Ace pointed out, he looks like he can fit the GRIII role. That's what I see in him as well, almost down to a tee. I still would like to see a guy at the HS level that can get a step on a defender when he's driving, so that's a concern, but Baruti, if he is in fact a legit 6'6", looks like a guy that can go up and get the ball, finish strong around the rim, and have the frame to add mass to bang a bit against opposing 4s on defense.
I'm actually encouraged by the lack of dribble-drive skills. IMO Beilein sometimes looks for too many skills in his front-court players. Baruti's limitations indicate to me that Beilein is focusing on the physical elements that are much needed on the current roster. (Same goes for Davis and Teske actually.)
He does seem to be a step slow, but I also wonder if some of that will mature with better coaching. He's probably not the quickest guy, but he also seems a bit tentative with the ball in a way that makes sense if he's been playing in another country for most of his life and might still be figuring out the American game. He definitely seems like a solid athlete at least.
Baruti seems to have some dog in him, of which I approve.
Also looks like he might have a case of Greg Oden disease. (Where you look 42 for the next 50 years.)
That 247 article about the Opening event has a note at the bottom saying Curtis Blackwell was a recruit there. He still has eligibility? Seems like a violation.
You probably already figured this out/are making a joke, but this Curtis Blackwell is an offensive lineman from Indiana.
For what it's worth, Darnay Holmes has said that he'd rather play CB (but is open to whatever). When he's talking about being on the opposite side of David Long, I think he's talking about being on the opposite side of the field and not the opposite side of the line of scrimmage.
And I agree that he has the kind of Crystal Ball picks that make him a guy to watch (a mix from across the country with a heavy dose of Stanford).
Curious how Baruti ended up in Grundy, VA of all places. I grew up a few hours northeast of there and Grundy is in the necks of southwest VA near the Kentucky and West VA borders. I'd call it NASCAR country but that might imply more people live there. I recall in highschool Grundy was known as a power house in wrestling and football (at the single A level).
yeah same part of the state. I think within an hour or two by car.
So, other reputable sites are reporting that Baruti has only played two years of organized ball, his limted 3pt % is terrible, and his 2 pt percentage not great (48%). It is difficult to imagine that he will hit the 3 or be like GRIII in any time soon--he might become a very good player in a couple of years, but GRIII doesn't seem to be an apt comparison. A defensive, rebounding, put back, player seems more likely.
So we get to have a Branden Dawson type player, minus the whole table punching and floor slapping attitude.
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We'll see, personally(given his recent interviews) I'm skeptical, but it would a HUGE head to head win if it came to pass and so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
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I know Beilein needs to fill roster spots, but I do not see Baruti's game translating well to what Beilein typically wants to do. In general I see some issues of his game translating to the college level.
He's very deliberate in his play (which makes sense given the limited time he has been playing organized ball). That's going to take a lot of practice time to develop.
His shooting form looked consistent but it is not smooth and is slow. I doubt he develops beyond being a streaky shooter.
It looks like he is 100% three or finishing at the hoop. With his shot, it will be difficult for him to develop a mid-range game. This will make it much easier for a team to shut him out on any given night.
I also did not like the constant looking to the refs for a foul call anytime someone made contact with him. He could easily get frustrated by the level of contact he will receive at the college level especially since he will most likely be tasked with playing the four.
On the positive side, he could probably develop into a good wing/post defender and rebounder which is always good to have.
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In retrospect, my phrasing there didn't quite communicate what I intended.
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Did someone say gams?
It's a little suprising that OSU isn't in Dotson's top three. I like him as a prospect and he seems like a smart kid. Come on down and be a part of the tight end factory kid.
OSU doesn't seem to be prioritizing TE's this cycle, Scout's profile only shows four offers out to TE's and not a lot of interest in terms of unoffered Tight Ends, things might change later, but this seems to be more a case of not a high priority this cycle.
All from in-state. That must be nice.
Every time I read some news about BB recruiting, he got someone from nowhere. To be the leaders and best, you have to compete the top-tier pool of recruits. If you can't compete with other BB schools, you are doomed. Beilein just waste the U-M brand and academic resources.
I hope he should retire early. I have lost my interest in BB already.
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