This recruiting update serves as a mere appetizer to Brian's forthcoming column of Michigan's drubbing of Wisconsin last night, where the Wolverines held a forty(!) point lead midway through the second half. But what an appetizer it is, with Frankie Collins making a statement on the big stage, Caleb Houstan looking college-ready(!!) and the number one recruiting class in America moving up(!!!) the rankings.

Collins Takes on Bates

All eyes were on Frankie Collins as his Air Nado squad took on #1 overall prospect Emoni Bates and Ypsi Prep on Sunday night in Dallas. With '21 offer Jaden Hardy opting out of the season, this was an opportunity to see what Collins looked like as the undisputed number one option on the team, and he did not disappoint.

Frankie carved up the Ypsi Prep defense early in the first quarter, forcing several fouls and compelling YP to opt for a zone defense to preclude Collins' dribble penetration. The future Michigan PG was relatively quiet for the remainder of the first half before going bonkers in the second stanza, finishing with a game-high 28 points while dishing out 6 assists and nearly leading Air Nado to a come-from-behind victory.

In a game featuring the aforementioned Bates and no less than six more high-major prospects on the court at all times, Collins was the best player on the court by a fairly wide margin. He was electric in the open court, converting at the rim with explosion and sudden euro-steps, but his shot creating ability in half-court settings is what popped out from an evaluation perspective. Frankie was superb at navigating through traffic, collapsing the YP defense and finding teammates on dumpoffs and kickouts. His six assists don't do his playmaking justice. 

Collins is going to be physically ready to compete for playing time the day he sets foot on campus in Ann Arbor. His athleticism and playmaking ability for others means that he may crack the rotation early on, and depending on the status of Smith or potential transfers, may even find himself as a guy that plays more than 10 minutes a game as a freshman. While his jumper remains an area for improvement, you simply don't find may players with Frankie's level of spatial awareness and passing. 

[Hit THE JUMP for new film on Caleb Houstan, updated rankings and 2021 tidbits]

Houstan Looks Ready To Plug and Pay

Caleb Houstan took the court for a Montverde team riding a 39 game winning streak at the prestigious NIBC event in the DC-area. The event is functionally a bubble-like environment for the best HS teams in the country, with 8 of the top 20 programs in America converging in one gym over the weekend. 

Houstan came in with a reputation as one of the premier shooters in the nation and he cemented his status as such while flashing a bit more. He knocked down multiple triples in every game, displaying outstanding consistency in his shot mechanics with good balance on a really effortless stroke. His perimeter shotmaking ability is beyond reproach at this point, but the revelation over the weekend was Caleb's passing. 

Houstan had several outstanding dimes, several of which were in tight spaces and delivered from various angles. While he doesn't project as an on-ball type at the next level, his ability to deliver precision passes as both a ball-mover and when doubled/blitzed bodes well for his utility in Ann Arbor. Duncan Robinson really improved in this area last year with the Miami Heat and it definitely paid dividends for Erik Spoelstra in tandem with his gravity as a shooter. 

Caleb's size and shotmaking ability make him a candidate to fill the Isaiah Livers role as a knockdown shooter with some defensive versatility. Despite the rankings, Houstan doesn't appear to be a sure thing one and done in the mold of Moussa Diabate. Potentially having him in Ann Arbor for multiple years would give Juwan Howard a ton of flexibility with both lineups and recruiting, as Caleb can likely play two positions on both ends of the court regardless of competition. 

Michigan Signees Moves Up The Rankings

Rivals updated their 2021 rankings yesterday, with all 6 signees making small gains.

Rivals 2021 Hoops Recruiting Update:

Caleb Houston - 11 ➡️ 8
Moussa Diabate - 29 ➡️ 26
Kobe Bufkin - 60 ➡️ 50
Frankie Collins - 73 ➡️ 67
Isaiah Barnes - 112 ➡️ 101
Will Tschetter - 147 ➡️ 132

— The Michigan Beat (@michigan_beat) January 11, 2021

The majority of these rankings are in the appropriate range, with Moussa Diabate being the exception. There aren't 10 prospects in America better than Moussa, let alone 25. Perhaps even more perplexing is that Rivals' lead analyst appears to be Florida-based Rob Cassidy. Presumably he's viewed Diabate live on multiple occasions considering proximity. I'd love for Cassidy, or anyone else for that matter, to explain the merits of that ranking considering NBA potential, current production, competition level and raw talent/athleticism. 

Tidbits on Remaining 2021 Offers

Top 30 big Efton Reid took to Twitter in early December to inform everyone that he would be cutting his list soon. Soon is apparently a relative term, as a month later said list has yet to be released. Michigan had been heavily involved here along with Ohio State, Pitt and Virginia in recent months, but things may have cooled a bit. In a late December piece with 247, Reid does not expressly mention Michigan, while commenting on both Ohio State and Virginia.  

I've checked in on the situation, and it appears that Efton has increasing interest in exploring the professional option. I'm not stating that it is a foregone conclusion Reid takes the pro route (I don't necessarily think the market is robust), but the desire to carry out due diligence is something that appears to align with his delay in terms of the college recruitment process. While Michigan needs another big, having the number one recruiting class in America means that Juwan Howard has the luxury of waiting things out here, particularly with immediate eligibility transfers expected to be abundantly available in a few months. 

I've long held that 2021 number one overall prospect Chet Holmgren is likely headed to Gonzaga, despite optimism that he'll land at Michigan from various others. Gonzaga does indeed appear to be on the cusp here, with five high-confidence crystal balls for the Zags coming in over the last two weeks. While I don't necessarily think an announcement is imminent, I don't think Michigan is in position to pull him away from Mark Few barring a major change of heart.

4-star big Charles Bediako is close to a decision and had this to say about Michigan in a late December article with 247:

"Michigan is good. Coach Howard and the rest of the coaching staff are great. I've built a great relationship with coach Howard. He played my position so he knows what it takes and can help me get to the next level and with his history in the NBA I think he can get me ready for that. Their message is to keep working and that the way I fit in the system would be running in transition, ball screens, and post ups as my body starts to get better."

Nothing has changed here, Alabama still remains the heavy favorite per my intel and the crystal ball has six picks all in favor of the Crimson Tide. Again, not a huge concern with portal options and Michigan being perhaps the most attractive transfer destination in the country with the type of season the Wolverines have put together to date.