The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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32 THE WOLVERINE AUGUST 2019 BASKETBALL RECRUITING Walker Kessler 7-0 • 235 • C College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy Rivals' No. 19 recruit in the land Beilein first offered Kessler in the win- ter, and Howard reaf- firmed it shortly after he was hired. Distance could be a factor, but Kessler said he would listen and seemed genuinely intrigued by Howard's NBA experi- ence. "I definitely want to get up there for another visit," he said. He plans to visit Gonzaga, North Carolina and Duke again, and Au- burn is also very high on his list. "Coach Howard has been a big man at the highest level," Kessler said. "He knows what it takes. That means a lot to me." Kessler wants to decide by Novem- ber. "I want to get it done before my senior year of basketball so I can go into the season kind of relaxed," he said. "Things can change, but that's kind of the timeline. "If there was a deciding factor I knew, then I'd probably be commit- ted already." Hunter Dickinson 7-1 • 260 • C Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Rivals' No. 28 pros- pect nationally Dickinson is a true back-to-the-basket cen- ter who can move, and more and more schools have gotten involved. He said his Michigan offer was "a great honor." "I'm thankful to get an offer from someone with as high basketball prowess as Coach Howard," he said. "I would like to plan a visit, but I'm not pressing to go anytime soon. Something more like late fall would be ideal." Purdue, Louisville, Notre Dame and North Carolina have all been heavily involved, but he does like the Wolverines. "I was interested in Michigan be- fore Juwan Howard was there, when it was John Beilein," Dickinson said. "Now that they hired Coach How- ard, I think it's even more interesting. "It's something that's been a dream of mine, to play in the NBA. It's not completely driving my decision, but if a coach has a previous history of get- ting players to the league and believes he can get me to the league, that's something that speaks to me." Henry Coleman 6-7 • 220 • PF Richmond (Va.) Trinity Episcopal Rivals' No. 11 recruit in the country Coleman, an elite rebounder, played ex- tremely well in July, earning offers from Ari- zona State, Duke and Michigan. "They like my game a lot," he said. "I talk to Coach Howard a lot. He knows what to do and how to get me [to the NBA] and prepare me for it. I always have to keep that in the back of my mind, and I like the area that Michigan is in too." Duke, though, is probably the fa- vorite. "I am going to have a top eight and then take five officials off of that," he said. "I want to sign early, so I will probably make my decision in early November or in late October." Lance Ware 6-9 • 205 • PF Camden (N.J.) Big Picture Learning Academy Rivals' No. 52 prospect in the nation Howard and his staff watched Ware closely at the July Peach Jam, and he might be the guy that U-M has the best shot at landing in the 2020 class. He has been on campus a few times, including for the College Practice Camp last year. Georgia Tech, Louisville, Providence and Georgetown are among the others to have offered. Clemson, U-M, Provi- dence and North Carolina are his top four. "I love it, and I know that I am blessed," he said. "Most people don't have this opportunity. I am going to take advantage of it and do what I have to do to be successful. "I am going to take my time with the process and make sure that I go to the right school." U-M has made an impression. "There is Coach Saddi [Washing- ton] and Coach [Phil] Martelli, and I had just talked to Coach Howard. … He was just saying that he is going to come and see me at Peach Jam," Ware said. "It is Michigan basketball. You don't have to say much about it; the name says it all." Ware averaged 14 points and six re- bounds at Peach Jam. Jalen Suggs 6-4 • 185 • PG Minneapolis Minnehaha Academy Rivals' No. 16 recruit in the land The Wolverines are playing catch-up to Min- nesota, Gonzaga and others. Suggs does like Michigan and loved the Fab Five documentary that came out several years ago, but he could stay closer to home. "I've always seen Minnesota as a great fit, probably just because it's the hometown," he said. "Everyone is there. My family is there. My friends are there. It's where I was born and raised." The Golden Gophers are not weak at the guard position, but they could definitely use a big-time guard. "I have a good relationship with all of the coaches at Gonzaga," he said. "I have a great friendship with all of the players there, and all of the players they have in their recruiting class in 2020. There is really no negative I can find to say about it. "It's a great program and great school. It's a great fit for me." He added he'd take three other of- ficials. "Marquette for sure. Iowa State, I've been talking to them. Florida, I want to get down there as well," he said. "That pretty well rounds it up for the officials. But nothing is for sure. There are definitely other schools in the mix." Rivals national recruiting analyst Corey Evans "I like it. I think they've gone big-fish hunting in a way. They haven't been afraid to go after it, but they actually haven't steered away from many for the guys I thought Michigan would have recruited the first time around with John Beilein. I think they're actually recruit- ing high-level prospects."