With a top 10 recruiting class in hand for 2021, Michigan is looking to put icing on the cake with a blue chip big and a 5-star perimeter prospect to close out the class. All the latest in this week’s roundup below. 

Canadian Sharpshooter Anyone?

Consensus 5-star wing Caleb Houstan will announce a final four tomorrow. I’m told by a reliable source that Michigan is likely to make the cut along with Duke, Gonzaga and perhaps Virginia.

Houstan has played things close to the vest since reclassing to 2021 in July, so there hasn’t been a ton of information available on Michigan’s involvement. The current staff has been involved since at least May and Caleb acknowledged in his July SI blog that Michigan was among the schools pushing the hardest.

Originally from Toronto, it appears Houstan may have grown up a Michigan fan during the John Beilein years. So while he plays his HS ball at Florida powerhouse Montverde Academy, this recruitment doesn’t present the same sort of geographical challenges that have been exacerbated with the health crisis. 

I’m not optimistic that Michigan will ultimately land Caleb based on recent history, but crack enough of these top lists and one will break our way at some point. 

[After THE JUMP: most recent intel on remaining bigs]

Bediako To Cut List to Five

2021 five-star Charles Bediako will announce his final five schools on Saturday, he tells me.

Current Top 10: Duke, Alabama, Memphis, Tennessee, Michigan, Texas, Baylor, Maryland, Ohio State, USC. @CBediako

— Tipton Edits (@TiptonEdits) October 6, 2020

Michigan’s most pressing need is undoubtedly a legit center with Hunter Dickinson projected to be the only true 5 on the roster in 2021-2022. I’ve been a bit skeptical on the Wolverines’ chances with top 30 big Charles Bediako, but a reliable source on the Michigan side informed we were in solid position a few weeks back. 

I did some digging yesterday and it appears Alabama may be in pole position here per one of my most reliable sources. In his first piece for 247, Eric Bossi labels Bediako an Alabama lean as well.

Seems to be a lot of Alabama smoke from multiple people despite the optimism from my Michigan source. I’d assume Jett Howard is in Charles’ ear, and that may give us a chance, but I just don’t get great vibes here. As I say though, recruiting is always fluid.

The Latest on Efton Reid

I’m told 4-star big Efton Reid will cut his list soon and the Wolverines are expected to be among the final group. The remaining finalists will likely be chosen from Ohio State, Pitt, Kentucky and Louisville. 

I continue to hear Michigan is in solid position here, and perhaps in the top group of the five aforementioned schools, but a commitment is not imminent. 

While I prefer Bediako for roster construction purposes (Bediako is the better defender to complement Dickinson), Reid would be a massive pickup that would give Michigan two legit post options on offense over the next 3-4 years. 

Dad Making Things Tough

2022 4-star Jett Howard is a bit frustrated that his bloodlines may be preventing his recruitment from exploding.

“To be honest, it bothers me. Other opportunities can open up for me but having everyone just assuming I’m going to Michigan because of my dad kind of stops those, I think. Coaches just assume they know where I’m going before they know me.”

Howard acknowledges a functional top two of Michigan and Florida in the same piece, before providing the Michigan fluff and the obligatory “I’m still open” quote.

“I’m liking it a lot. Of course, my dad is the head coach but that’s not the only reason why I’m liking it. Obviously a lot of people think I’m going there, but I’m still open to a lot of other schools and a lot of other options.”

I wouldn’t consider myself the authority on recruiting, but I’m relatively comfortable in saying that Jett Howard will be in the 2022 class for Michigan. Hopefully he can bring a few of his IMG friends to Ann Arbor with him. 

Happy Trails

5-star wing Harrison Ingram committed to Stanford a few weeks back. The staff did all they could in this recruitment and made up a ton of ground, but reservations about playing with Jett Howard and Mom’s preference for Stanford were too much to overcome.