Updated 247 2021 Basketball Rankings
https://247sports.com/Season/2021-Basketball/RecruitRankings/?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool
Movement from current commits and targets:
Caleb Houstan #9 --> #11
Moussa Diabate #20 --> #15
Kobe Bufkin #88 --> #45 (!!!)
Frankie Collins #72 --> #53
Isaiah Barnes #82 --> #95
Will Tschetter Outside top 150
Chet Holmgren remains at #1
Trevor Keels #14 --> #16
Efton Reid #24 --> #26
Charles Bediako remains at #27
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:28 PM ^
We got a fucking squad next year
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:14 PM ^
4 In the top 55. That's Kentucky like. Except Kentucky and Duke get 4 - 5 guys in the top 20 - 30.
December 2nd, 2020 at 5:34 PM ^
2017 Kentucky had 7 players in top 31...and the 2nd ranked class.
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:34 PM ^
Yes, it's a fantastic class coming in 2021, but I'm going to temper my expectations for results in the 2021/22 season because we will be relying pretty much solely on freshmen and sophomores. We just lose so much experience from this season. I know this season doesn't count toward eligibility and guys like Livers "could" come back, but it's not going to happen. Livers, Brooks, Smith, Brown, and Davis are likely gone, and Wagner is a possibility as well. Hopefully Wagner stays and we can get an experienced grad-transfer or 2 to help bridge that gap.
December 2nd, 2020 at 5:41 PM ^
It’s basically impossible to know who is going to be on the team next year. Not sure how you know none of those players are coming back. The exact reasons you stated makes it likely 1 or more of those players you listed does come back.
December 2nd, 2020 at 5:46 PM ^
If Wagner stays, the only way we can get a grad transfer is if someone else transfers. We are at our limit right now. Its possible Nunez may be able to grad transfer. It would be nice to pick up a quality transfer big for the 2021, and especially the 2022 year. Or perhaps Efton Reid. Diabate and Dickinson may both be gone in 2022 and that would leave us with all freshman bigs.
December 2nd, 2020 at 5:48 PM ^
Fwiw, there’s basically no scholarship limit for next season.
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:39 PM ^
Huge jump for Bufkin!!!
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:44 PM ^
Bufkin and Frankie with nice bumps. Diabate going from 20 to 15 is pretty solid too, must be hard to move much at the top.
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:22 PM ^
yeah thats a massive jump for sure.
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:49 PM ^
Basketball is gonna be fun. But it requires patience through the season. Teams can start out looking horrible before they start to gel near the end of the season. Don’t make assumptions on 2-3 games. Remember 2013-2014, 2010-2011, 2017-2018, 2016-2017 all started out looking like crap in a game or two and then ended with amazing runs. Go Blue!
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:14 PM ^
Couldn't agree more. Duke basically started 5 Top 50 recruits, 4 of which were in the Top 20 last night. And they got run off the floor for 30 of the 40 mins against MSU. It takes a team, not individual recruits, that deliver success.
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:26 PM ^
This cannot be said enough!
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:50 PM ^
I like Bufkin's game, but #45 seems extremely generous.
IMO, and i know they are playing different positions, but comparing them to where they would rank vs. their peers at their position, no way in hell is Bufkin a better recruit than Collins.
I'm curious if we even have a punchers chance at Reid still. Im not sure if him watching Dickinson helps or hurts - could go either way i guess.
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:51 PM ^
I like Bufkin more than Collins.
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:54 PM ^
I'm just curious - to each his own opinion. But....why? I mean, there are a couple important things Bufkin has over Collins, but overall, i still do not think its even that close.
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:56 PM ^
Outside scoring ability Bufkin has the edge. That’s pretty important.
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:05 PM ^
Bufkin is a 3 level scorer with great length and positional versatility. Frankie is a good athlete and playmaker, but his height and lack of jumpshot limits his ceiling right now
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
I think Bufkin has a higher ceiling with his game.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:29 PM ^
I mean, Bufkin is a shooting guard and Collins is a point guard. Two different positions. Great thing w Collins is can slash to the basket and get to the rim or kick out to a 3 point shot!
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
I would think it would help with Reid. Reid is more of a traditional big like Dickinson. The key going forward i think is showing the need for multiple post players and how they work together.
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:59 PM ^
I was thinking this is about where Matt said Kobe should be ranked if he was ranking him. I could be mixing him up with another player.
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:18 PM ^
I think you are right. They said he was gonna get a big bump next rankings cycle.
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:03 PM ^
Definitely disagree. Bufkin has improved immensely this off season and was tearing it up against great competition at camps this summer. Collins is great prospect with athleticism and playmaking who I'm definitely excited about, but Bufkin is a 3 level scorer who has improved his handle and athletically this summer
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:17 PM ^
Is this based on pro potential? Collins is a 5'11" pt guard, Bufkin is a 6'5" shooting guard, who can handle pt guard duties.
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:30 PM ^
If pictures, like the one with his family and Juwan, are any indication Bufkin is (currently, anyway ... he could have some growth left) 6'5" in the same way Jalen Rose is 6'8". As in, not really. I'd guess that he's close to 6'3.5", which means 6'2" "without shoes."
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:18 PM ^
Well they usually play with shoes on, but I'll give you the Jalen Rose ht.
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:23 PM ^
Measured in at 6'4 without shoes at the 2019 Nike Elite 100 FWIW
December 2nd, 2020 at 6:34 PM ^
That's actually great.
I'm getting deja vu here. (As in, I've probably discounted his height on MGoBlog before.)
December 2nd, 2020 at 5:29 PM ^
And without socks probably closer to 5’11”
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:32 PM ^
And this is where i could be off-based. If rankings in b-ball are based on pro potential like football is, then i can definitely see where they are ranking Bufkin higher i guess.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:14 PM ^
Each rating service is a little different, but 247 tends to weight pro-potential as a significant factor. Through that lens you can easily see why Bufkin (who could turn out like Jordan Poole) has a higher rating than Collins (who could turn out like Walton/Simpson). The good news is that it doesn't matter - we have both of them!
I think Collins is going to be a great college PG....though I hope his jump shot improves so he can reach his potential. Kobe needs to get stronger and develop the fringes of his game more (defense, passing, etc.) but has the potential to be a star. Put them both on our roster for the next 2-4 years and surround them with a collection of 5-stars and program guys?? Yes please!
(If anyone watched Duke, Kentucky, or Kansas last night however....just remember to be patient next year when we look disorganized an get beat by a less talented team that has more experience.)
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:34 PM ^
Especially since Johns will most likely be our only returning upper classman who will actually play. If Wagner stays for his junior year that would be awesome but I dont expect that to happen. We are gonna have 4 freshmen and sophs in the starting lineup, if Diabate plays the 3. If he plays the 4 over Johns we will have 5 starting under classmen.
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:38 PM ^
The good news is it looks as if Dickinson and Williams are going to get a lot of playing time this year!
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:13 PM ^
Think it all depends on the criteria. If you're going with NBA upside as the primary factor (Which 247 explicitly does), then I don't think there's any question that Bufkin should be ranked higher than Collins.
If college production is your preferred criteria, then things get interesting. For me, if forced to rank right now, I'd probably have them in the same tier (45-65 overall), with Bufkin slightly higher.
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:53 PM ^
Welp, looks like Howard still can't recruit top 10 talent now.
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:03 PM ^
Tschetter did move down from #213 to #216. His rating stayed flat at 88 though so it's a matter of guys passing him.
Same deal with Houstan. His drop was due to guys passing him.
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:12 PM ^
I'm kind of curious how Tschetter fits in with the type of athletes Howard is recruiting. I'm not knocking the kid in any way or hung up on his ranking, im just curious how he fits in. Who does he compare to and how does that fit on the team?
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:32 PM ^
He's a long play. Maybe he grows a little from 6'6" / 6'7" and gets stronger. He'll be a steady veteran after 3-4 years who can make long shots and play some passable defense. He'll pair well with the one-/two-and-dones.
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:57 PM ^
Juwan definitely has a plan for him. He's gonna be a program kid who plays the 4 or small ball 5 who has a frame to put on some muscle, can stretch the floor, and also already has some post moves that can be added to. He reminds me of a Wisconsin type big
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:02 PM ^
Which would work a lot better if he's 6'8. I was thinking Matt said he was closer to 6'6
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:16 PM ^
If you want insight in to Coach Howard's early recruiting, I think you have to look at archetypes from the Miami Heat.
I think its safe to say that Tschetter is Michigan's version of Kelly Olynk. A change of pace big likely utilized in a reserve role. Minutes probably dictated by opposition.
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:26 PM ^
I would not be surprised if Tschetter has the best overall college career out of everyone in this recruiting class. He will likely stay 4 years, he's tough, has really good footwork and a nice shooting touch. As someone else stated, reminds me of a Wisconsin forward who you're glad to see finally graduate if he's an opponent.
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:09 PM ^
Even at #15, I think Diabate is underrated. He's a great talent.
In the debate over who's better - Collins or Bufkin - I don't care in the least. I just love the prospect of having both of them in the same backcourt! Both of them bring some unique talents that complement each other.
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:21 PM ^
These would be rankings for this year, if I were forced to submit rankings to my subscribing college coaches, along with true value assessment across years (as opposed to numerical ranking for 2021 class exclusively)
Moussa Diabate : top 10/10-25
Caleb Houstan: top 15/25-50
Kobe Bufkin: 40-60 range/50-75 range
Frankie Collins: 50 - 70 range/60 - 80 range
Isaiah Barnes: 80 - 120 range/100 - 150 range
Will Tschetter: 150-200 range/175-225 range
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:28 PM ^
Harrison Barnes
This gave me a chuckle, but I think we all know who you meant
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:32 PM ^
Efton fits into this group nicely and rounds out the class perfectly. Is that too MUCH to ask for? LOL.
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:56 PM ^
I'm not the biggest basketball guy, and I'm not that familiar with the other top 10 recruits, but a 7' sub-200 lb center being number 1 overall just doesn't pass the eye test to me.
Even if he projects to be a freakishly tall, freaky athletic guard like Giannis or KD, he's still 50 lbs lighter than those guys while being 1-2" taller. Based on his build it has to be a legit concern that he's able to put on that type of weight, and that concern is big enough that there is no way you can predict him as a lottery lock.
What am I missing here?
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:28 PM ^
Watch his video. The guy does things a 7 footer just shouldn't be able to do.
December 2nd, 2020 at 5:13 PM ^
I watched, and it is impressive. I'm not saying he belongs to be ranked among the 4 stars or anything.
2019's #1 went #1 in the 2020 NBA Draft
2018's #1 went #3 in the 2019 NBA Draft
2017's #1 went #2 in the 2018 NBA Draft
2016's #1 went #4 in the 2017 NBA Draft
These guys were all close to sure things. I'd put more money on Chet being a 4-year college guy than him going Top 5 in 2022.