The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2018 THE WOLVERINE 49 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan football is always a great atmosphere in which to host recruits, and not just on the foot- ball end. Head coach John Beilein has brought hundreds of basketball prospects in during his 11 years at the helm in Ann Arbor, and he had more on campus Sept. 8 when the football Wolverines hosted Western Michigan. Both commitments — Jalen Wilson (6-8, 210, Rivals.com's No. 36 senior nationally) from Guyer High in Den- ton, Texas, and Cole Bajema (6-7, 175, No. 100) of Lynden, (Wash.) Chris- tian — were in for their officials, and class of 2020 power forward Lance Ware (6-8, 205, Rivals.com's No. 45 junior nationally) from Camden High in Burlington, N.J., was in for an unofficial. Wilson said the trip couldn't have gone better. "The visit was amazing," Wilson said, adding that he loved being able to hang around with his future team- mates and coaches. "Just spending time with everyone was the best part." He and Bajema got to know each other on the visit and got along well. "He's real cool," Wilson said. Bajema, too, had a great time. "It went well," he said. "I thought the football game [a 49-3 Michigan win] was awesome, and just being with the coaching staff for the day and being able to be with the players for a little while was great," he said. The current players weren't the only Wolverines Bajema had a chance to interact with recently. He made it to former Michigan guard Jamal Crawford's camp recently, where he earned high praise from the longtime NBA standout. "You are a stud," Crawford re- sponded when Bajema tweeted a picture of the two together. "U of M got a good one!" Ware, meanwhile, made it to cam- pus for the second time, indicating strong mutual interest. He was at the national championship game sitting in the Michigan section when the Wolverines faced Villanova. "There was so much intensity in the game, it was ridiculous," Ware said. "I like how Coach Beilein runs his program, and I like his players. He is just a class act." Though there's always the outside possibility Michigan could add an- other 2019 prospect in the late pe- riod, the coaches have focused most of their attention on 2020 players. They're set to host two more in up- coming weeks in Woodbury (Minn.) East Ridge power forward Ben Carl- son (6-9, No. 52 junior in the nation) and Butler (Pa.) Area Senior High point guard Ethan Morton (6-5, 180, No. 47 junior in the country). Carlson, an elite student, planned to be on campus for the Sept. 21 weekend. Nebraska, Iowa State, Kansas State, Purdue, Wisconsin and others have also offered while Gonzaga, Michi- gan, Ohio State and Indiana have begun to express greater interest, too. From Rivals.com: "Stanford has found great traction within his re- cruitment, though the same can be said for others including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Pur- due. Look for more offers to come in in the coming years." Carlson has a great feel the game in the low and high post area, Ri- vals.com's Corey Evans reported, and also has the ability to shoot the perimeter jumper and also defend his basket. Morton plans to be up in October. Neither has been offered, but that could change on the visits. The Mich- igan coaches have yet to offer any juniors. "We haven't really discussed an offer, but I'm really excited for the visit," Morton said. "I don't have a list right now, but I'm definitely in- terested in them." MORE ELITE JUNIORS ARE LISTING MICHIGAN The already impressive list of 2020 prospects considering Michigan con- BASKETBALL RECRUITING Prospects Are Starting To Make Their Way To Ann Arbor Michigan's two commitments in the class of 2019 — Jalen Wilson (left), a 6-8, 210-pound for- ward from Denton, Texas, and Rivals.com's No. 36 senior nationally, and Cole Bajema, a 6-7, 175-pound forward from Lynden, Wash., and Rivals No. 100 player in the class — made their official visits over the weekend of the Western Michigan game. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM