basketball recruiting

Michigan kick-started a roster overhaul when former North Texas guard/wing Rubin Jones announced his transfer to Michigan on Friday. 

Admittedly, I had never heard of Rubin Jones prior to Friday, let alone watch him play at the college level. As an up-transfer, I decided to scout three full games of UNT this season against the very best competition they faced in St. John's (KP #21), Mississippi State (KP #34) and Florida Atlantic (KP #47) to get a better feel as to the potential impact/projection in the B10.

I think Wolverine fans will end up liking this addition a lot more than the buzz suggests. 

SCOUTING (Defense)

It's rare to start off an evaluation of an up-transfer on the defensive end, but that's exactly what I'm going to do here. Jones' defensive versatility and ability to check multiple positions is likely the most projectable part of his game right now. 

I was keen to watch the film against Dusty May's former team in FAU, as the Owls were one of the better offensive teams in the nation (KP #22 AdjO). Rubin drew the assignment of AAC player of the year, Johnell Davis. I'm going to be candid here, Rubin Jones had Davis in the torture chamber in the minutes he was on the floor. Twenty-five seconds worth of hell for Davis below:

Jones top-locks Davis near half-court to prevent a touch initially. Dusty May then gets into Split action in an attempt to get Johnell the ball on the move - look at Rubin's screen navigation/chasing to once again deny a touch. FAU then gets into ballscreen action and watch Jones tag Goldin on the roll + recover to Davis in the corner. 

That screen navigation/chasing was just the start. The intersection of POA defense + screen navigation came together in this possession and my lord was it impressive. 

May starts the set off with an Iverson cut (Davis running from right to left along the 3pt line) and then gets into Ricky action (screen + re-screen for the same player) in another attempt to get the ball to Davis on the move. Rubin's chasing here was superb, as he fights through an egregious moving screen from Goldin to force the Davis catch 30+ feet from the basket. Jones then shades Johnell right (toward his help). Dusty May then counters with Get action (Davis tosses it to Goldin then the DHO right back to him). Jones initially trails by a half step but re-engages in two strides, then uses his length + hand activity to strip Davis. This is a +2 in a hypothetical UFR. 

[After THE JUMP: jumbo playmaker that also spaces the floor?]

Michigan landed their third commitment of the 2024 cycle today when 4-star wing Khani Rooths committed to Michigan. Juwan Howard dipped back into his IMG top-50 pipeline (Moussa Diabate + Jett Howard) to secure a major talent that brings some recruiting momentum back to Ann Arbor. 

Rooths chose Michigan over fellow-finalists Georgia and Florida State after releasing a final three on November 2nd. All signs pointed toward Georgia until Khani's official visit to Ann Arbor last weekend completely turned the tide in favor of the Wolverines. 

GURU RANKINGS

All of the services agree that Rooths is a 4-star prospect that sits in a tight range between 19-33 overall. Three of the four services have Khani at 6'8, while Rivals goes 6'7. The weight is near universal at 195-200 pounds. 

SCOUTING

Versatility and upside are the first words that come to mind when evaluating Khani. Physically, there's good positional size at 6'8 with solid length. He's not necessarily twitchy/explosive, particularly in terms of acceleration/deceleration, but Rooths is rangy and an above-average run + jump athlete. Once he adds some additional muscle mass/strength, Rooths has the makings of a good functional athlete, particularly on the defensive end. 

In terms of skill, Michigan is getting a three level scorer at 6'8 with some ability to make plays for others. While I wouldn't label Khani as a knockdown shooter at this stage of development, he is a solid/above-average perimeter shotmaker given his shot diet. He connects on his fair share of pull-ups from both midrange and distance, while being a solid floorspacing wing that can be a popper in ballscreen action. With an above-average handle for his size, Rooths is also capable of creating his own shot off the bounce and getting two feet in the paint for finishes at the rim, while flashing some passing/playmaking chops. While he's not a high-volume post-up type by any means, Khani does show some comfort as an occasional back-to-the-basket option that can score. In a nutshell, we're looking at a prospect that does many things above-average, but not elite in any one facet. Having the ability to operate from nearly any spot on the court with reasonable effectiveness really bodes well for lineup compatibility. 

On3 is enamored with the upside based on the physical tools/frame and echoes my versatility take:

Khani Rooths has a great frame and great length with real positional size (measured 6-foot-8, or so). The ball skills are developing; however, he is getting more confident with the ball in his hands. His mid-post/mid-range game is getting more dangerous. He will knock down some spot threes, and he can get downhill off the bounce. Defensively, Rooths is really intriguing. He can slide his feet with guards at the point of attack, disrupt the passing lanes, and he has the length and size to switch down to guard forwards. As you project Rooths forward, the archetype and physical tools are clear. There is an upward trajectory that he has continued to take over the past 12 or so months.

Rob Cassidy at Rivals likes the athletic facets, ability to create off the bounce and switchable defense: 

The 6-foot-7 forward is an aesthetic shot-maker that continues to add muscle and refine his ball-handling ability. He’s not polished as a long-range shooter just yet, but the four-star prospect was a menace in transition and off-dribble in Baltimore. Defenders have a hard time staying in front of the explosive Rooths, who has become a reliable finisher and mid-range threat. Rooths has nice bounce and routinely plays above the rim. He also impacts games as a switchable defender when he’s engaged on that end of the floor.

After seeing him at Team USA minicamp in October, 247's Brandon Jenkins came away impressed with the motor and slashing ability while noting the need for more consistency:

Top-30 senior Khani Rooths played as hard as we have seen him play during his high school career. A combination forward with ideal positional size, an athletic frame, and an evolving skillset on the perimeter, Rooths asserted himself as a difference-maker on both ends of the floor.

He flew to the backboards with a sense of urgency to pin shot attempts, sprinted the floor with a purpose, and was an aggressive slasher to the basket.

Rooths has a history of showing flashes of how valuable he can be at either forward spot. While he may not be ready to consistently dominate right now, he proved he is capable of having a positive influence on a game with his motor. Once he figures out how to find his own offense groove on a consistent basis, his best basketball will be a sight people will pay a significant amount of money to see down the road.

[After THE JUMP: film + projection]

Michigan added a second pledge to the 2024 class when in-state guard Durral Brooks announced his commitment to the Wolverines on Sunday. 

While the star allocations are split between 3* and 4*, the national rankings all coming in around the 100-150 range is a better indicator in this scenario. There is very little difference in this tier when talking basketball recruiting. So while it may appear ESPN is a bit more bullish in relation to the remaining services, functionally its splitting hairs. Three of the four industry leaders list Brooks at 6'2, while Rivals says 6'1. There is consensus on the 180 pound weight. As someone that has likely seen more of Phat Phat than anyone over the last two years, 6'2/180-185 seems perfect. 

[After THE JUMP: scouting, highlights]