With only three true guards on the roster heading into the 2022-23 season, the staff will likely look to add an instant impact type from the portal should a scholarship open up due to attrition via early-entry/transfer.

But given Michigan's academic constraints with respect to transfers that have yet to graduate from their prior institution, an incoming transfer would likely be a single season remedy. Accounting for that, traditional HS prospects will be pursued to fill-out the 2023-24 roster. 

Let's take a look at the pecking order of HS prospects coming off the second live evaluation period of 2022. 

Isaiah Collier

Height/Weight: Listed height in the 6'2 - 6'4 range, with listed weight ranging between 170 - 205. Eye test says he's probably a legit 6'2 and 190-195.

High School/AAU: Marietta Wheeler HS (GA)/Nike EYBL The Skill Factory (GA)

Weekend Performance: 19ppg, 7.5asst, 56.6% FG and 45.8% from distance in four games 

Mainstream Ranking: 5-star/top 10-25 prospect overall

EM Ranking/Evaluation: After watching Collier extensively over the weekend, the projected impact is definitely that of a 5-star prospect with an extremely high floor. Isaiah had a monster performance and his playmaking ability for others is off the charts as seen in my footage above. While he was a known commodity as a passer, I didn't anticipate him to be a perimeter shotmaker to the extent I witnessed in Indy. 45.8% from distance on 24 attempts is outstanding, particularly when considering that a good portion of those attempts were difficult pull-ups. He's streaky as a shooter, and I don't think he'll have another weekend where he shoots the ball that well. But, even if Collier is a consistent mid-30s type shooter from distance, that translates to a guy that has huge impact on the game given his ability to make others better and get downhill off the bounce. Athletically, my initial comp of poor man's Jrue Holiday was relatively accurate. Isaiah doesn't have the vertical explosion of Holiday (hence poor man's version) and isn't quite as tall, but his strength/core balance is impeccable for a HS junior. Defenders bounce off him when he's attacking the paint and his physicality can be overwhelming. He's not necessarily a shifty ballhandler, but he does have a solid handle and controls the ball while not being a big TO risk. Collier may actually be undervalued by services placing him in the 20s overall, as he absolutely looks the part of a top 8-15 prospect in the country. There is no doubt in my mind that he can step in and be a rotational player at Michigan from the day he steps on campus. There is a clear gap between Isaiah and the remaining prospects on this list. 

Recruitment: I'm told Collier hosted the Michigan staff for a home-visit last week. Collier himself informed me that Michigan was among the schools recruiting him the hardest and also among the programs he is serious about. Juwan Howard was front row for multiple games over the weekend so the staff is fully invested here. Isaiah also hosted Alabama for a home-visit last week immediately after Michigan and the Crimson Tide seem to be a primary competitor. He took a February OV to Cincinnati (AC Andre Morgan has heavy Atlanta connections), but in the end I can't see the Bearcats landing a prospect of this caliber. Collier resides in Atlanta, but has family on the West Coast and ties to the DMV-area, so the proximity/cultural components may not be what it appears on first glance. In any event, Collier is the clear number one option for a guard in the 2023 class. The staff is undoubtedly trying to get him to Ann Arbor for an official visit. If the OV materializes, then you know this one is getting very serious. 

Aden Holloway

Height/Weight: Listed at 6' - 6'1 and the 155-170 range. 6'0 and 165 looks about right. 

Weekend Performance: 13.5ppg, 4.3asst, 36% FG, 27% from distance in four games

Mainstream Ranking: 4-star/30-80 overall.

EM Ranking/Evaluation: Projects to have the impact of top 40-60 level prospect. I watched Holloway in detail over the weekend and came away impressed. He's an extremely streaky shooter and not the most efficient player around, but his offensive skill passes the eye test as you can see in my footage above. The flashes are very encouraging, as he's capable of hitting pull-ups from distance and midrange, has NBA range as an off-ball floorspacer and good on-ball playmaking for others. The limiting factor is size + athleticism. He's not a twitchy athlete by any means and doesn't possess great agility/acceleration. But for me, it's not a huge issue at the college level because he answered my concerns regarding his ability to play point-guard/on-ball. The size + athleticism factor isn't as concerning if he's matched up against a similar-sized foe. The shotmaking + playmaking allows a coaching staff to optimize that versatility and field lineup combinations where Holloway wouldn't be exploited defensively. Aden reminds me a bit of Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler. Holloway is a bit bigger and not as quick, but there is definitely some overlap in terms of offensive skillset and projected role. Has the look of a very good offensive player at the college level that may not have the physical attributes to be coveted by NBA GMs absent high-level production in college. 

Recruitment: Juwan Howard took in multiple games over the weekend so the interest is definitely real. However, Aden took an OV to Tennessee last week and Vols HC Rick Barnes was front row for every game I viewed and remained there for the duration of those games. The Wolverines are in the mix here, as Mom is a Michigan alum, but Tennessee seems to be in front. Again, if a visit materializes then things are serious. Holloway is lower on the board in relation to Collier, but still a top-tier target. 

[After THE JUMP: Marvel Allen]

Marvel Allen

Height/Weight: 6'4/195 (listed measurements), most likely a legit 6'2 - 6'3 and 185-190

Weekend Performance: 9ppg, 2.8asst, 29% FG, 17% from distance, 60% FT in four games

Mainstream Ranking: top-20 prospect overall to both the 247 + On3 composite rankings. 

EM Ranking/Evaluation: I've been subtle in saying that I'm not a huge fan of Allen and last weekend's evaluation further solidified that. To be candid, Marvel looked like a 100-150 level prospect. There wasn't a lot to like in terms perimeter skill. He's a below-average shooter as a catch + shoot floorspacer (and only attempted 6 triples in 4 games) and isn't good enough as a playmaker for others to justify playing him on-ball with heavy volume. What he does do is get to the charity stripe, with 15 FT attempts over the course of four games. Allen is a decent athlete, but lacks twitch and doesn't possess great acceleration. But he is strong and can absorb contact when going downhill. The fundamental issue for me is that he's functionally a bully-ball wing in the body of a SG. Just don't know that he has the necessary athleticism, given his size, to thrive in that sort of role in the B10. 

Recruitment: Offered in late March. Teammate of Isaiah Collier for Skill Factory, so the staff did evaluate him over the weekend as well. There are some connections here, as Allen attends the same HS as 2022 signee Greg Glenn. On the other hand, Marvel was committed to LSU prior to Will Wade's termination. Those two factors in tandem make this a unique recruitment from a Michigan perspective.