Tag: Chet Holmgren

Michigan basketball recruiting outlook at center in 2021 looking bright

Michigan basketball joins Alabama, Ohio State, Duke and Texas in the five-star’s top 5. Overall outlook on the Wolverines recruiting at C.

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Michigan has two commits in 2021 from Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy in football — including a five-star in QB J.J. McCarthy — could it get a 2021 five-star on the basketball side?

Since Juwan Howard took over the program a year and a half ago, the Michigan basketball program has sought out more top-tier prospects compared to former coach John Beilein. While the Wolverines haven’t been able to sign any five-stars — it had Isaiah Todd committed before he chose the G-League route — they’re in contention for several others.

Among them is IMG Academy five-star center Charles Bediako, the fifth-rated center in the country and No. 23 player overall, according to the 247Sports Composite. And Michigan appears to be in contention for him, as he named the maize and blue to his Top 5 on Saturday.

But, it’ll be a difficult pull, still, as he also put Alabama, Duke, Texas and Ohio State in his top group.

With four commits in the 2021 class, Michigan basketball has the No. 6 class in the country, according to 247Sports’ team rankings.

Bediako isn’t the only five-star center in IMG Academy’s 2021 class that Michigan is in with. Rated one spot ahead of his teammate Bediako, C Efton Reid is the No. 22 player in the class and the Wolverines appear to be in high contention for him as well.

Per Rivals, Michigan is the team to beat for Reid:

Juwan Howard may not have signed a remarkable 2020 class, but he did manage to lure some of the best from the DMV to Ann Arbor and, while Reid isn’t from the DMV, that could help the Wolverines in the end. Reid played travel ball with DMV products Terrance Williams and Hunter Dickinson last summer, and with Michigan facing a void in the frontcourt after the season, the Wolverines could do a lot worse than land the big 7-footer. Howard has communicated with Reid that he can configure a way for him and Dickinson to share the floor together which might make the idea of playing for the former NBA star even more intriguing whenever it comes down to making his decision.

Michigan also made the top group for Chet Holmgren, the top-rated center out of Minnesota and No. 2 player overall in 2021.

As far as Bediako is concerned, there are four 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions in for him to attend Alabama.

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2021 5-star center puts Michigan in top group

The Wolverines make the cut for the second-best player in the country in 2021.

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Michigan basketball just got its first 2021 commit this week in four-star shooting guard/small forward Isaiah Barnes. Is Juwan Howard just getting the momentum going this recruiting cycle?

It would seem so, though a top group certainly doesn’t equal imminent commitment, especially for a five-star prospect.

One such five-star recruit that the Wolverines are heavy after is Minneapolis (MN) Minnehaha Academy center Chet Holmgren, rated by 247Sports’ proprietary rankings as the No. 2 player in the country, regardless of position. The 7-foot-0, 190-pound inside man is a projected first-round, if not top ten, pick once he gets to the NBA draft, but as he’s looking to go to college first — rather than opting for the NBA G-League or playing overseas — Howard & Co. are working to secure his services for the team in Ann Arbor.

And the pitch seems to be working, as Holmgren released a top seven on Friday evening, with the Wolverines included.

 

Here’s the scouting report from 247Sports’ national basketball analyst Josh Gershon:

Extremely unique player who is unlike almost any American prospect in recent years. Good size, long arms and plus athleticism but very narrow frame. Extremely physically immature and may take a while to put on strength due to narrow shoulders/base. Despite lack of strength, very tough kid with impressive mental makeup. Has range to perimeter with jumper, good body control and high feel. Outstanding rim protector and rebounder. Level 10 motor. Hard to be overly critical outside of lack of strength/narrow frame. Projects as lottery pick.

Of course, going up against rival Ohio State, local Minnesota as well as powers North Carolina, Gonzaga, Memphis and Georgetown, Howard and the staff will have their work cut out for them.

Watch Holmgren’s junior highlights below: