Before a freshman suits up for the Michigan men’s basketball team, before he commits, and before a scholarship is even offered, Michigan’s coaches figure out which type of players should be targeted.
“You first have to start with what you believe your needs are going to be with that following class in terms of positions,” assistant coach Saddi Washington said in the spring.
Earlier this month, Michigan picked up its second commitment for the 2022 class in center Tarris Reed Jr. (ranked No. 69 in the class). The Wolverines also hold a pledge from point guard Dug McDaniel (No. 59).
What might the rest of the class look like?
Given Washington’s quote, it’s important to assess the roster.
The scholarship allotment for the Michigan men's basketball team for the next four seasons. (Andrew Kahn | MLive.com)
(Note: Eli Brooks doesn’t count against the scholarship limit this season due to an NCAA rule change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 13-player cap returns in 2022-23.)
While the chart above has space for only one more player next year, that number will almost certainly increase. Sophomore center Hunter Dickinson, who flirted with the NBA after his freshman season, has made repeated references to this being his final year at Michigan.
Two freshmen -- Caleb Houstan, ranked No. 10 overall in the class, and Moussa Diabaté (No. 16) -- are five-star recruits with one-and-done potential. There’s also the possibility of outgoing transfers.
In other words, expect at least two additional openings.
One figures to be taken by small forward Jett Howard. The 6-foot-7 Howard plays for IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and was teammates with Diabaté last season. That or any other connection pales to the family one: Howard is the youngest son of Michigan head coach Juwan Howard. Juwan’s son Jace is a sophomore with the Wolverines.
Jett announced his top seven schools on Friday. Michigan was among them.
A trio of McDaniel, Howard, and Reed would give Michigan a point guard, a wing, and a big man. Michigan looks solid in the backcourt in the near future with Frankie Collins, Kobe Bufkin, Isaiah Barnes, Zeb Jackson, and Jace Howard.
For the final spot(s) in this recruiting cycle, Michigan’s coaches can swing “big” in both senses of the word.
Dereck Lively II is the fifth-best player in the class, per the 247sports composite rankings. The 7-foot-1 center put Michigan in his top seven schools in late June, a group that also included Kentucky, Duke, and Penn State, where his mom, Kathy Drysdale, played and now works in the athletic department.
“I would love for him to go to Penn State because he’d be in my backyard but it’s not about me, it’s about him, and his path is different than everybody else’s,” Drysdale told MLive last month. “It’s about the feel -- all the schools on his list are phenomenal schools and great at building relationships, so this is going to be the hardest decision of his life, but the best hardest decision of his life.”
She had many great things to say about Howard and his staff. “Juwan Howard is phenomenal. He’s been there, he’s done it, he knows what it’s about. It is about building relationships, and that’s what they’ve done.”
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Michigan offered another center, 6-foot-10 Yohan Traore, last week. He’s ranked No. 67, but several recruiting experts believe he will rise in the rankings. It’s possible he could be on the court at the same time as another true center, should the need arise.
Ernest Udeh Jr. also holds a Michigan offer, and listed the Wolverines in his top 10 on Monday. Ranked No. 56 in the class, Udeh is a 6-foot-10 center whose offense is starting to catch up with his defense.
Two talented power forwards listed Michigan among their finalists recently: A.J. Casey (6-foot-8, ranked No. 33) and Gregg Glenn (6-foot-7, No. 93). Small forward Ty Rodgers from Grand Blanc visited Michigan in June. A handful of other uncommitted prospects hold Michigan scholarship offers, though how much Michigan is still pursuing any of them is unclear.
Howard and his staff assembled the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for 2021. The 2022 class is shaping up nicely.
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August 19, 2021 at 08:42PM
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How Michigan basketball might complete its 2022 recruiting class - MLive.com
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