The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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60 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2018 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan head coach John Beilein and his staff have already gone one over the 13 allotted scholarships in the class of 2019, likely with the expectation that wing Charles Mat- thews will forego a fifth year to enter the NBA Draft. Center Jon Teske and point guard Zavier Simpson will graduate before any 2020 targets make their way to Ann Arbor, so there will be spots for at least two prospects if the coaches don't sign any other 2019 recruits in the spring. Here's a look at some of the rising juniors the Wolverines were watch- ing this summer and where they stand with them. ISAIAH JACKSON 6-8 • 180 • PF Detroit Old Redford Prep Rivals.com Five-Star Prospect No. 20 Junior Nationally Jackson, a freak athlete, has been on campus several times and the U‑M coaches contacted him June 15 — the first day they were allowed by NCAA rules. Iowa and Ole Miss offered him in May, and he also holds offers from Florida State, Marquette, Mississippi State and others. Jackson wouldn't talk recruiting at the NBA Players' Association camp this summer, but he made it clear in May he held Michigan in high regard. "Michigan is such a great school and a great program," he said. "I've been to two or three of their games before — it was an awesome atmosphere there. "I really like the way Coach Beilein coaches, and I also like the way their de‑ fensive coach [Luke Yaklich] does things." NIMARI BURNETT 6-3 • 180 • SG Napa (Calif.) Prolific Prep Rivals.com Four-Star Prospect No. 62 Junior Nationally The Chicago native made the move to the West Coast last year, but U‑M as‑ sistant Yaklich used to coach him when they were both younger, so there's a bond there. He holds early offers from Stanford, Illinois, Cal, St. John's and De‑ Paul, among others. Arizona, Gonzaga, Louisville, Ohio State, Texas A&M and San Diego State also are showing interest. "Things have going well," Burnett said of the recruiting process this summer. "I'm looking for a good relationship with the coaches and for me to come in as a freshman and produce. "I'm also looking for the academic standpoint of it to set myself up for the future." Burnett averaged 14.1 points per game in eight Nike Elite Youth Bas‑ ketball League (EYBL) AAU games this summer and 14.4 in five games at the Nike Peach Jam in July. "I would describe myself as a combo guard who can shoot very well, pass very well, high IQ and athletic," Burnett said. ETHAN MORTON 6-5 • 180 • PG Butler (Pa.) Senior Rivals.com Four-Star Prospect No. 47 Junior Nationally Morton averaged 4.5 points per game and shot 33.3 percent from long range in Nike EYBL play, playing up with the Under‑17s. He said this summer he'd like to visit Vanderbilt, Marquette and Northwestern — all have offered — in addition to Villanova, Xavier and Michi‑ gan, which he's already seen. He has also already been to Pitts‑ burgh, Penn State, West Virginia, Ohio State, Purdue, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Virginia and Butler in addition to U‑M. He really likes the Wolverines. "He is a stud," New York Rens AAU coach Andy Borman told Vanderbilt Rivals this summer. "He is a 6‑foot‑5 point guard. He has great vision and can shoot the ball. He also can read the defense two to three passes in advance. "Ethan is also a great communicator. He is the extension of the coach. He is the quarterback on the floor. His intan‑ gibles are staggeringly unique. He is a really good player. He has the size, and the skill set. He also rebounds from the guard position." LANCE WARE 6-8 • 205 • PF Burlington (N.J.) Camden Rivals.com Four-Star Prospect No. 45 Junior Nationally Maryland, Seton Hall and Providence have offered, but Ware really likes the Wolverines. "I was at the national title game, sit‑ ting in the Michigan fan section. There was so much intensity in the game — it was ridiculous," he said. "I like how Coach Beilein runs his program and his players. He is just a class act." Rivals.com's Corey Evans loves Ware's game. "He is a tremendously talented pros‑ pect who works best facing the basket," he said this summer. "Ware is someone who can stretch the defense with a pe‑ rimeter jumper, rebound in traffic, pro‑ tect his basket and also pass the ball in various settings." Ware visited Michigan unofficially in June. He averaged a modest 7.6 points and 8.8 rebounds in 15 games as a sophomore last season, but he had a huge summer. ZEB JACKSON 6-3 • 165 • PG Toledo (Ohio) Maumee Country Day Rivals.com Four-Star Prospect No. 88 Junior Nationally Wisconsin, Marquette, Iowa, Arizona State, Virginia, Iowa State, Xavier, Butler, Illinois, Ohio State, Providence and Cin‑ BASKETBALL RECRUITING John Beilein And His Staff Start Focusing On 2020 Targets The Wolverines have strong interest in Detroit junior Isaiah Jackson, a 6-8 power forward who is ranked No. 20 nationally in his class by Rivals.com. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM