Juwan dot Alonzo Mourning dot gif [Marc-Grégor Campredon]

Hoops Recruiting is a Mixed Bag Comment Count

Matt EM November 6th, 2019 at 4:53 PM

With only three 2020 offerees still on the board heading into the early signing period next week, the margin for error is rather slim. Of course, having five-star forward Isaiah Todd and four-star guard Zeb Jackson in the mix make any potential misses a bit easier to swallow. While Michigan doesn’t appear to be in pole position for both early-signee targets, there is some encouraging talk for a certain center.

Moody Set to Decide on November 9th

reminder not to tweet at recruits ever

Top-60 prospect Moses Moody will choose between a final 3 of Arkansas, Michigan and Virginia this Saturday in Little Rock, Arkansas. Juwan Howard made a late push upon assuming head coaching duties in May and the Wolverines certainly left a positive impression during Moody’s OV in late September.

With Virginia never getting a visit, this is functionally a two-horse race between Arkansas and Michigan. Arkansas received the most recent visit in late October and Moses has been consistent with his praise for Eric Musselman’s NBA experience as a positive for him.

I’ve been dropping subtle hints for the last month or so that$Arkansas$was the team to beat. With his parents taking independent visits to Fayetteville, childhood friend KK Robinson likely to commit in the near future, the last 4 crystal balls for Arkansas and the announcement location in Little Rock, this appears to be a mere formality in favor of the Razorbacks.

[Hit THE JUMP for somewhat positive news.]

Grass Isn’t Greener On the Other Side?

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(Jon Lopez/Nike)

DeMatha Catholic center Hunter Dickinson is widely assumed to announce over the next 10 days. I received word yesterday the top-40 prospect may be down to an informal top 2 of Michigan and Florida State.

Michigan was the presumed leader prior to Hunter landing a Duke offer and the subsequent OV, but its been nearly 3 weeks since the visit to Durham and the lack of chatter for the Blue Devils in the aftermath gives some level of credence to the Michigan/FSU talk. Duke insiders don’t feel very good about their chances, which is saying something. Rivals’ Corey Evans is sticking with his Michigan prediction as of last Sunday.

With top-30 center Mark Williams pledging to Coach K, Dickinson may feel a lot better about the potential to see the court early in Ann Arbor, particularly with an early sample that suggests Juwan Howard is willing to play two large humans simultaneously. The Florida State depth-chart features a former 5-star prospect in seven-foot freshman Balsa Koprivica, while Notre Dame has two 2020 commitments from bigs in Matt Zona and Elijah Taylor.

Michigan seems to make a ton of sense here, but Dickinson has been difficult to read. Hopefully Coach Howard can close the deal over the next week and change.

No-News Nimari

Status quo for five-star guard Nimari Burnett out of Prolific Prep. There has been some Texas Tech chatter recently, but nothing has changed for Nimari and family. They are intent to examine on-court results, tempo, recruiting additions and potential early entries for each of the four finalists.

Exclusive of the aforementioned criteria, Alabama guard Jahvon Quinerly has not been cleared to play and sat out Alabama’s season opening loss to Penn. Head coach Nate Oats expects an appeal decision on Quinerly next Monday subsequent to a conference call. If the NCAA denies eligibility this season to the former 5-star, one would think it doesn’t bode well for the Crimson Tide in their pursuit of Burnett.

Nimari is still on track for a mid-December decision and he should gain some clarity in late November and the early portion of December.

Comments

GhostofJermain…

November 7th, 2019 at 9:12 AM ^

The staff loves Lander game, and think they have a real shot.  Camp Sanderson could make KL a lottery pick. 

If we strike out on the big fish (I doubt it, Dickinson comin' plus one more), Saddi has some lines out in the metro Detroit area.  With high school basketball less than 3 weeks out in Michigan, don't be surprised if they kick the tires on Tyson Acuff. 

They obviously like Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Terry. 

Unfortunately, Coach JB did not push hard for Lorne Bowman out of OLSM, and now the kid is top 50, and that program is stacked with players who will play in the big ten over the next few years.  Word is Bowman is pushing hard for his fellow Eaglet guards to join him in...Madison.

Cheers

Jordan2323

November 6th, 2019 at 6:00 PM ^

Will Michigan go after Terry if these two fall through? No interest in Adam Miller from Chicago?  Or who else have they or would they go after? May have to cast a wider net and get a quality player in the 4 star range to go with Zeb. Zeb, Jace, some 4 star wing, Todd and Dickinson would be a really good class. 

True Blue Grit

November 6th, 2019 at 6:08 PM ^

Does JH have any Plan B players out there?  It seems that if the top prospects fall through that there are other good players we can sign.  The lack of chatter on this makes me nervous.

Shop Smart Sho…

November 6th, 2019 at 6:46 PM ^

"If the NCAA denies eligibility this season to the former 5-star, one would think it doesn’t bode well for the Crimson Tide in their pursuit of Burnett."

Why? 

I generally enjoy these, but it seems like each one leaves us to guess at stuff you think we should know. 

Shop Smart Sho…

November 6th, 2019 at 10:05 PM ^

Still not following the logic. If he chose Michigan he'd be walking into a situation where Wagner is entrenched as the starter with Bajema right behind him and DDJ/Brooks are upperclassmen waiting to take over PG duties with Zeb Jackson coming in as well. So how is our depth chart a selling point vs Alabama? 

I get that of all the guys I listed Wagner is probably the only guy who right now projects out to the NBA, but everyone else is either a bigger body, way more experienced, or actually a point guard. Seems like if he wants immediate playing time this would not be a great first choice for him.

4th phase

November 6th, 2019 at 7:27 PM ^

What do you make of Jace not committing to his dad by now? Was the Michigan offer just to raise his profile and hope another school would come calling? Is Howard waiting to see if we have room after these 3 guys?

michymich

November 6th, 2019 at 7:49 PM ^

Howard is going to land plenty of bigs during his time in AA. Makes sense and love the fact that Howard wants to go down low and get easy buckets and dominate the glass. Draw fouls because most teams want to jack up the 3. Now on the defensive end...I don't know how you make that work unless you zone.

 

My concern isn't landing bigs but I would think if you have bigs you would compliment them with 3 point shooters. I don't think Zeb Jackson isn't necessarily that guy so I would like to see 4 year sharp shooters get recruited too. Last night was a good example where Brooks was necessary. Inside/out but plenty of double teams will be coming with big lineups.

 

I like it though. A penetrating pg with bigs plus tough D and that is a recipe to win.