Tag: Papa Kante

Michigan basketball recruit requests release from letter of intent

Not a shocker, but still a bummer.

There has been doubt for some time that Michigan basketball would retain four-star center Papa Kante from the 2023 recruiting class.

On Tuesday morning, that became a reality.

The 6-foot-10 center tweeted he was requesting a release of the letter of intent he signed to play for the Wolverines next season. Kante was one of two players Michigan signed for the 2023 class. The other is four-star guard George Washington. Kante was the 107th-ranked player in the nation according to 247Sports Composite.

Kante came to the United States from Senegal and played high school ball at South Kent Prep School in Connecticut.

With the release of Kante, Michigan has two available scholarships to hand out for next season. The Wolverines are after a few players from the transfer portal, and are still in the mix to bring back center Hunter Dickinson.

Michigan now has one true center on the roster for next season, Tarris Reed Jr. The Wolverines desperately need to reel in someone to help Reed next season at the 5 if the maize and blue are unable to sway Dickinson back to Ann Arbor.

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Michigan basketball reels in elite 2023 center commitment

Literally huge! #GoBlue

Juwan Howard got his man.

Michigan basketball had long been after South Kent (Connecticut) School four-star center Papa Kante, who had visited Ann Arbor multiple times. Rated the No. 91 player in the country according to 247Sports’ proprietary rankings, as well as the 12th-best center in the country, Kante seemed to keep trending toward the Wolverines without pulling the trigger. With offers from Maryland, Kansas, Georgetown, Illinois, Tennessee and Syracuse, Kante appeared to keep his options open.

Until recently, when it seemed inescapable that he’d eventually wear maize and blue. That became a reality on Thursday: Kante announced he has committed to Michigan basketball.

Kante is the first pledge for Howard and company in the 2023 recruiting class. He’s listed at 6-foot-10, 215-pounds and will join a roster with at least Tarris Reed, giving the Wolverines options at center once he arrives next year.

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Four-star Papa Kante talks Rutgers basketball visit, upcoming Big Ten visits

Four-star Papa Kante breaks down his recent Rutgers basketball visit and previews his visits to Maryland and Michigan.

Papa Kante is heading into a busy stretch of his recruitment. The coveted recruit, one of the top big men in the country, is visiting three Big Ten programs this month.

One of those programs is Rutgers basketball, where Kante visited this past weekend.

A four-star recruit, the 6-foot-10 center is ranked the No. 127 player in the nation according to Rivals. He has 14 offers currently.

The class of 2023 prospect is a standout at South Kent (South Kent, CT). On3 ranks Kante as the third-best player in Connecticut.

Kante remains grounded in his recruitment, saying that he is in no rush to make a decision. As for a timeline, Kante won’t commit to anything quite yet as he continues to learn more about the programs that are after him.

“I don’t know yet, only Allah knows the right time and I’m going to keep praying,” Kante said.

“And whenever me and my family feel it is the best time and the best fit, I’ll make a decision!”

Check out what [autotag]Papa Kante[/autotag] had to say about his recent Rutgers basketball visit, his connection with head coach Steve Pikiell as well as his upcoming visits to Big Ten basketball programs Maryland and Michigan!