The Wolverines are intent on landing a lead-guard type for the 2022 class with Devante Jones and Zeb Jackson the only potential upperclassmen guards on the current roster a year from now. Jones may have professional aspirations and attrition in contemporary basketball is the expectation rather than the exception.  

Juwan Howard has two primary options at this point, and scheduled back-to-back visits for each in a calculated move that will undoubtedly expedite the decision-making process in an effort to gain the first commitment of the 2022 class. 

 

Up First

4-star guard Seth Trimble will take an official visit to Ann Arbor on June 13th. Things are moving quickly here after the Wolverines extended an offer a few weeks back. The Milwaukee-area native hasn't necessarily been discreet about his love for Michigan and his quotes to 247 yesterday continue to solidify his affinity for the Maize and Blue. 

“I can't wait to go visit, I've heard many great things about Michigan. Can't wait to go visit. I've been watching them play, I live right around the Big Ten. When the season is around, I see every other game of Michigan's. I see a lot. They're a really good school and they're recruiting me heavy. So, it'll be interesting to see.”

This recruitment had the feel of an imminent commitment in the immediate aftermath of said visit until last week when North Carolina put forth a scholarship offer. After departing Ann Arbor, Seth will immediately take an OV to Chapel Hill on June 16th. You may recall Trimble is the brother of former UNC Wing JP Tokoto. While Trimble has familiarity with the Chapel Hill campus, it doesn't appear he has a good feel for Hubert Davis or the Tar Heel style of play under the new coaching staff. 

“They're a great family. I've gone down to their campus all the time, their campus is nice. We haven't talked much about it. Really, the feedback, my personal feedback because I watch their guards play and watch how they run, we haven't talked much about it but definitely planning to.”

It seems as if Michigan, North Carolina and Marquette make up a functional top three based on his comments regarding potential visits with his other options.

"I'm hoping to get them done in June. If that time doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. It could come later, could maybe be July or August. Hoping to get them done in June and hoping to commit sometime around late August, early August maybe, or early September."

While Marquette is slated to get an unofficial visit on June 2nd, this absolutely has the feel of a two-horse race between the Wolverines and Tar Heels. Prior to the UNC offer, I would've placed the odds of Michigan securing his commitment in June at better than 50/50. While I still believe Michigan is in a really good spot here, and may potentially lead, you just never know how much of an impact official visits with each program will make.  

Reading between the lines here, it says something about something when DMV-connected Phil Martelli is point-man for Trimble and the visit for the other option is pushed back a week. It appears Seth is the clear priority and I agree with that assessment. 

[Hit THE JUMP for Dug McDaniel and updates elsewhere]

On Deck

Top-80 guard Dug McDaniel was projected by many to be the initial commitment for 2022, but his delay in doing so and interest elsewhere has that line of thinking questionable at best. Originally scheduled to make an OV to Ann Arbor during the first week of June, McDaniel is now scheduled to be on campus immediately after Seth Trimble as noted above. 

In an interview with 247 today, Dug confirms the contact with Michigan is still consistent.

“Our relationship has been going very well and it keeps improving everyday. I talk to coach Martelli everyday and coach Juwan once a week. They just tell me that they want me to come in and make an immediate impact and be a great leader on and off the court. It's a mutual relationship and we talk about stuff outside of basketball.”

McDaniel doesn't appear to be in any rush to make a decision based on these quotes from the same piece.

“My decision will definitely come down to taking visits and experiencing the atmosphere,” he said. “I'm a very outgoing guy so the social aspect is just as important as the basketball aspect. After I take my visits and experience college life I'll be able to cut my list down.”

Notably, Florida gets no mention in the article despite being the school rumored to lead in recent months. That's because Dug's primary recruiter at Florida, Darris Nichols, was hired as the head coach at Radford in late April. 

Penn State and Arizona State have been gaining some traction here in recent months and it seems like McDaniel is willing to accept new suitors and perhaps prolong a decision. It will be interesting to see how things play out in mid-June.

 

Justice Williams

I was in Hampton, Virginia last weekend to get an updated look at 4-star guard Justice Williams. After  viewing him in Scranton during April, my initial evaluation was a scoring combo-guard with solid vision that could potentially be molded into more of a PG. 

Justice flipped the script in Hampton, as he looked great as a playmaker for others in both half-court settings and transition. He looked the part of a pass-first lead guard that made the game easier for teammates while being able to score at high clip. If the facilitation skills are a consistent part of his game, his appeal for Michigan is definitely increased considering Jett Howard is going to be the 2/3 of this class. 

On the recruiting trail, Michigan is among the schools pursuing him the hardest. As of now, the only scheduled visit is with Purdue in late June. When I spoke with Williams in April, he wasn't in any sort of rush with his recruitment and the lack of visits is indicative of the same. If the Trimble/McDaniel duo doesn't produce a commitment by late June, I'd expect the staff to get Justice on campus and/or expand the guard board.

 

Elsewhere

Top-60 guard Trejuan Holloman says Michigan is one the schools pushing the hardest despite the lack of an offer. Michigan State has been heavily involved here and Holloman has locked in an OV with the Spartans for June 2nd. Tre is probably a Plan B/C type for the staff that will be kept warm should we strike out with other prospects higher on the board. 

5-star guard Jaden Bradley will officially visit North Carolina in June and plans to to take an unofficial to Kentucky in August. Michigan hasn't received any mention with Bradley in months and he appears to be trending toward UNC/UK should professional options not be viable.