kyle filipowski

With Hunter Dickinson likely gone in 2022 after a lengthy flirtation with professional options and Moussa Diabate having one-and-done potential, Michigan is absolutely taking a true center in the 2022 class. The Wolverine board expanded quickly after the staff identified new prospects during the live evaluation period.

With Tarris Reed's decision looming (more on that below), the question is quickly turning to whether the staff pursues a wing, a hybrid big, or simply best available talent to round out the 2022 class. 

I was in Orlando last week for the NBPA Top 100 Camp to get updated looks at several offers/targets. In the aftermath, I'm absolutely in the "let's go all-in for Yohan" camp. 

Traore Time

5-star (for me) Yohan Traore was among the ten best prospects I viewed at the camp and that may be a conservative view. He had stretches of dominance where his skillset was eye-popping. Perhaps none better than the possession that commences at the :20 second mark of the clip above. Yohan switches on to a guard, beats him to the spot, comes up with a block and then hits a triple on the other end after jab-stepping his defender to create space. The rest of the film above features Traore scoring in every way imaginable: Olajuwon-esque dream shakes, face-up + blow-bys against bigs, midrange jumpers, euro-steps in transition and back-to-the-basket scoring. Caveats apply because it's a camp setting and all, but geez was he impressive.

To be candid, I was probably more enamored with Yohan's projection based on the plays that he didn't convert as reflected below.

These are half-court scenarios against a set defense where Traore is displaying a wing-like handle with change of speed dribbles and euro-steps that are getting clear separation versus 5-stars Adem Bona and Baye Fall. For reference, Bona and Fall are generally considered great athletes and defenders. 

And then there is the most enticing aspect of his game, the ability to grab a defensive board and push in transition. The clip below is just absurd for a 6'9 - 6'10 HS senior. Yohan discards 5-star Kel'el Ware to come up with a defensive rebound, puts a nasty behind-the-back + spin move combo on Isaac Traudt and kicks-out to the corner once a help defender arrives. Kansas commit Gradey Dick didn't knock down the open triple, but man that is some serious skill on display that created a huge advantage in the form of an open look. 

Defensively, there's a lot to get excited about as well. Traore is very much a switchable defender (see the :20 and 1:07 marks of the very first clip in this post) based on size/agility and because of that you can use multiple looks defending ballscreens. Look at the clip below where he hedges then recovers to contest the short-roll jumper from the elbow. 

In isolation he displays active hands to compliment the aforementioned agility. Here, he harasses Noah Clowney (who may have been the only other big in attendance on Yohan's level) and forces a deflection, stays with him on the drive but commits an unnecessary foul to bail him out. But you can clearly see the upside there. He's not a Moussa Diabate level defender/athlete, but he's not far from it. 

I really wish Coach Howard could have attended. There is no doubt in my mind that an offer would've been extended. I've spoken with Traore frequently over the last few weeks and playing the power forward position in college is his clear preference. With the impending Reed situation, this is all setting up for the staff to have a convincing argument that he can do just that. Yohan has legitimate interest in Michigan and is friendly with current freshman Moussa Diabate. Hopefully Coach Howard has seen enough on film to issue an offer. Traore is basically the ideal college player that can impact the game from multiple positions/spots on the court at both ends. 

[Hit THE JUMP for Reed confidence and a 2023 note]

With Hunter Dickinson likely gone in 2022 after a lengthy flirtation with professional options and Moussa Diabate having one-and-done potential, Michigan is absolutely taking a true center in the 2022 class. The Wolverine board expanded quickly after the staff identified new prospects during the live evaluation period.

I hit the road over the weekend, making stops in Augusta and Indianapolis for the Nike EYBL and Under Armour shoe-circuit events. I now have a firm grip on pecking order with the bigs after gathering the latest intel and will cover each option in order of staff preference (as opposed to most likely).

Reed Sets Decision Date

4-star Tarris Reed will go public with his commitment on August 5th. Last week I placed my hypothetical crystal ball confidence in the 5-6 range. As an update, my CB confidence would be 9 if Reed were making his decision today. But there is more than a week to go, and in the recruiting world that is a lifetime of opportunity for others to make last ditch efforts. 

Michigan has the most recent visit in late June and the only real competition at this point is Ohio State. The Buckeyes just landed Tarris' AAU teammate in top-50 center Felix Okpara, so all things point to Michigan for Reed barring a last-minute change of heart. 

The St. Louis native was one of the most impressive bigs during EYBL play, putting up 15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and nearly a block per game against the very best HS competition in the world. This would be a great get by the staff, as Tarris is a legit back-to-the-basket scorer with solid vision as a passer and some upside as a shooter that can face-up and put the ball on the floor for a dribble or two.

I'll answer the inevitable question now - I'd lean toward Reed for Michigan if given the choice between Tarris/Okpara. In a vacuum, both prospects are in the same tier, with Okpara being a better defender by a healthy margin, while Reed has a significant advantage offensively. The difference? Tarris will  be coached by Juwan Howard and Okpara will not. 

[Hit THE JUMP for the not-happening options and a full audition]

With Hunter Dickinson likely gone in 2022 after a lengthy flirtation with professional options and Moussa Diabate having one-and-done potential, Michigan is absolutely taking a true center in the 2022 class. The Wolverine board has expanded quickly after the staff identified new prospects during the live evaluation period.

I hit the road over the weekend, making stops in Dallas and Omaha for the Under Armour and Adidas shoe-circuit events. I now have a firm grip on pecking order with the bigs after gathering the latest intel and will cover each option in order of staff preference (as opposed to most likely).

Doubtful

5-star Dereck Lively has been downright dominant on the defensive end against the best HS competition in the world at Peach Jam, averaging a whopping 5 blocks per game through seven games of pool play. He's also put in 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds on 53.5% from the field in nearly 26 minutes per contest so far.

Juwan Howard is making his preference clear, as he was front and center for Dereck on the first day of last weekend's live evalulation period. As I mentioned last week, Lively has been publicly gushing over Kentucky and I've heard things are close to being done there since mid-June. And we now have our first crystal ball in favor of the Wildcats. With his ascension though, the professional route is now becoming a viable option as well. For that reason, I don't necessarily think Dereck is intent on wrapping things up in the near future. This could drag out to the fall, but I don't think Michigan is a legitimate threat to land his commitment unless he makes his way to campus.

The Biggest Longshot

Super-skilled big Kyle Filipowski has been putting on an offensive clinic during pool play at Peach Jam, averaging 13.3 points, 3.6 assists(!) on 45.5% from distance and 58.7% FG. He's also pulling down 7.6 rebounds and blocking a shot per game for good measure.

Coach Howard also took in Flip while in Augusta, and it's clear Michigan is shooting its shot here. I'll continue to stress that Filipowski plays travel-ball for the nephew of Duke leading man Mike Krzyzewski. Kyle was on campus at Duke for an official visit three weeks ago and picked up four crystal balls in favor of the Blue Devils in the immediate aftermath. Two more CBs came in for Duke last week. Long story short, I believe Durham is the destination until it isn't.

[Hit THE JUMP for better news]