Sam Talks to Jalen Wilson's Mom: "Michigan is Definitely Still in the Picture"
A few tidbits from this morning's Recruiting Roundup on WTKA after Sam talked to Jalen Wilson's mom:
- Juwan has already talked to Jalen and his mom. He's working to get Jalen back in the fold. They're going to sit down in person soon. Mom strongly stressed that "Michigan is definitely still in the picture."
- They mainly want to hear what Juwan's new system is going to be, particularly on offense.
- Mom says people are overselling the RJ Hampton angle. They weren't joined at the hip, and Jalen might still go to Kansas.
- All that said, Sam said, "I wouldn't say that Michigan is the favorite, but they're still very much in the picture." It sounds like Jalen truly has no idea what he's going to do.
I’m surprised they haven’t met already.
Juwan may need to fill out his coaching staff first.
i think we're currently in a dead or quiet period when no in-person contact is allowed.
Correct. Only on campus visits allowed at the moment. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but does this mean we will basically have no recruiting the next month because Juwan wasn't able to already plan these on campus visits?
I think it is permissible to send red smoke signals on the fourth Thursday of the month if it is raining out to set up a visit during the quiet period.
I thought we are allowed to monitor a chimney at Crisler for white or black smoke during this time.
With the recruiting rules Jalen can take another official visit to Michigan. If that happens, then I’ll get my hopes up.
Maybe he can be hosted by Dax Hill?
I get that Jalen needs to meet with Juwan and hear his vision for Jalen's place in the offense, but unless he tells him that we are bringing the four corner's offense back, I don't really see why he wouldn't still want to come to Michigan. Everything else about what made him want to come in the first place is still there.
I can't even seriously respond to this. Everything else is still here? Who are you people?
Reggie i am absolutely baffled by his post.
Yeah, everything but the coaches that recruited him, and the system he watched, and saw himself flourishing in. Yeah, but other than that, I agree with you.
He could walk into to a fairly established MBB team and be a key ingredient to help elevate them to serious contenders at a place he has already envisioned himself.
Howard’s known to be a high character guy that treats people well.
I would think that would be a pretty good draw for him. Let’s hope.
Everything about Michigan, the university, is the same yes. But John Beilein is gone, as is his system. Yaklich, the main recruiter for Jalen, is gone too. As is Dre Haynes.. as far as the basketball side is concerned the only thing that is the same is Saddi Washington.
Obviously stranger things have happened to/for us in recruiting (see: Aubrey Solomon and Dax Hill) and it is promising to see we're not out of it just yet but this feels like a major uphill battle to get him back in the fold.
I'm not even cautiously optimistic about him. He's gone, slight chance we get him back but if I were a betting man I wouldn't put any money on it.
If Sam Web is accurate, it’s more than a “slight chance”.
"Everything else about what made him want to come in the first place is still there"
To another 93 grad.... Your last sentence is comically false... unless it was sarcasm.... I will chalk it up to the latter....
I will probably get negged for saying this, but why do so many on this blog feel the need to be mean / rude to people they disagree with. I understand why you disagree with 93Grad's opinion, but can't you say so in a more civil manner? We are all Michigan sports fans.
Hmm, I'd say for mgoblog the responses he got were pretty tame.
Agreed. My comment applies to this post and all of the others.
Because... the internet.
Not saying that 93 isn't a Michigan fan, but certainly you know that not everyone here is a Michigan fan.
Haha, I guess I was rounding up.
“We are all reasonable men”
So you are telling me Beilein is still in play and Yaklich hasn't cleared this with the wife yet?
Got it!
Minus the Head Coach & top assistant, yup everything else is pretty much status quo..
SMH, LOL, /s and all other appropriate addendum here
"I wouldn't say that Michigan is the favorite, but they're still very much in the picture."
That is Sam speak for saying, "Don't get your hopes up".
Probably, but better than a straight up no
At least with a straight up no, we can move on as opposed to the distant hope that a top recruit will turn down a dirty program's money only to find us collecting another 2nd place trophy!
He did that already when he committed to Michigan the first time. No if he doesn't re-commit its because he was paid?
most likely, though it's hard to say when the staff is still being finalized and Juwan hasn't gotten in there for a face to face yet. Perhaps that could radically change things when they can paint the picture of "here's your coaches and why they can get you to the league, here's the system you'll be playing in - we see you as a NBA Player Name Here type contributor" etc.. but until then we're definitely playing from behind as he knows what he's getting with other options.
Code for "Michigan is about to finish 2nd".
We're in the picture, alright...
Far off in the distance, waving, as Jalen drives toward the "Welcome to Lawrence, KS" highway sign.
If Juwan can really connect with players like everyone is saying then I think we have a pretty good shot at getting Jalen back in the class.
Sam’s usually extremely positive on our chances at prospects. If he doesn’t think we are the leader, we probably are not going to get Wilson back in the fold. Hoping Juwan can change that, but he seems to be probably playing elsewhere.
Seems unlikely at best he's coming back. If that's how it turns out, it stinks but I don't think it's as dire as some.
We had an excellent freshman class come in last year in terms of talent and potential. Beilein's system takes time to learn and the staff emphasized the defensive piece to such an extent that it kept those guys on the pine. Find a couple shooters to complement X, Teske, and Livers and this team can still be viable to compete at a very high level.
It's a new day for those 2018 guys (DDJ, Nunez, Castelton, and Johns) and Bajema apparently put on ~25 lbs of muscle this year as he heads to campus. Let's see if Howard can flex his development muscles and get those guys producing. Then we can focus on a killer 2020 class with more bullets in the chamber scholarship-wise to hit on some guys that can contribute right away.
Good points and Jalen Wilson is a projected one-and-done, is he not?
So, we’re really just looking at replacing what his potential/production was, for this coming season.
He is not, but then again, neither was Iggy.
Wilson is probably not a one-and-done candidate, at least according to most recruiting assessments. I think he's the perfect modern day NCAA recruit - should positively impact the program from his first day on campus, but probably stay in the program 2-3 years.
But I'll be honest - after watching Poole and Iggy leave based on Day 2 NBA draft prospects (at best), I'm not sure how to assess the probability that an incoming recruit will stay longer than we first envisioned.
"I wouldn't say that Michigan is the favorite, but they're still very much in the picture."
equals
"I like you......as a friend."
Oh, that one hurts.
I'm used to this so when Jalen picks Kansas I should be okay
When/if Juwan meets with him, maybe his namesake could tag along? Or would the NCAA object?
You either die a Dax Hill or live long enough to become an Aubrey Solomon
Just an FYI...being a UNC hoops, I have read a lot about Jalen’s possible commitment from their side and it appears that KU might be the favorite.
It looks like him playing with RJ was a bit overblown. Also, KU’s PG withdrew his name from the NBA Draft making them a final four contender; along with De Sousa and Azubuike returning.
UNC people feel has a better chance starting at KU/UM than he does at UNC because of their 2 grad transfer signings and returning players.
I really hope he chooses UM or UNC. But he’d be an instant starter at UM and could really help build momentum for Juwan and the program.
Isn’t Kansas going to be on probation for NCAA rules violations.....never mind.
Somehow they were able to overturn De Sousa’s 2 year suspension into him being immediate eligible. Lol.
To be fair, the kid probably shouldn't have gotten a 2-year suspension in the first place.