The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1147681
AUGUST 2019 THE WOLVERINE 33 BASKETBALL RECRUITING Jaden Springer 6-4 • 184 • SG Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy Rivals' No. 12 pros- pect nationally Springer included the Wolverines in his top five recently, along with Florida, Memphis, North Carolina and Ten- nessee, but U-M appears to be a lon- ger shot here. He helped lead IMG Academy to the national title in the GEICO High School Nationals last season, notching 12 points, seven as- sists and five rebounds in the final against No. 1 La Porte (Ind.) La Lumi- ere. Springer's cousin, Atlanta Hawks forward DeAndre' Bembry, played under Martelli at St. Joseph's from 2013-16. ❏ Here are Michigan's class of 2021 (rising juniors) offers as of July 21: Max Christie 6-5 • 170 • SG Rolling Meadows (Ill.) High Rivals' No. 13 recruit in the nation DePaul, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, Stanford and Wisconsin have also offered. Juwan Howard watched him play when he was still an NBA assistant, and he visited when Beilein was still at U-M. "Michigan is a great place, and when I went on the visit there, I liked them as well," Christie said in July. "Their fan base is also great, their campus is nice and it's a comfortable place to be. Their basketball facilities are great too. … I like Michigan." Michael Foster 6-9 • 220 • PF Phoenix Hillcrest Rivals' No. 8 prospect in the country Arizona State, Florida State, Georgetown, Houston, Illinois, Kansas, LSU, Marquette, Memphis, Minnesota, TCU, Texas A&M, UCLA and Wake Forest have also offered. "We have heard about a much-improved Michael Foster, and he showed it this sum- mer," Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Eric Bossi said. "The physically developed for- ward can handle it some on the break, shoot it out to the perimeter and defend different spots in the front court. "However, he remains at his best around the basket and doesn't come up short many times on the finish attempt. … He cemented his standing as a top-five sophomore nation- ally with his stock currently pointing upward." Foster plays with Mac Irvin Fire out of Chicago, a program Howard is close with. Patrick Baldwin Jr. 6-8 • 195 • SF Sussex (Wis.) Hamilton Rivals' No. 3 recruit nationally Arizona State, Duke, Florida and Illinois are among those that have offered. "Baldwin already holds a Duke offer, but there are some underlying dynamics in his recruit- ment because his father, Pat Baldwin Sr., is cur- rently the head coach at Milwaukee," Rivals noted. "Regardless, Baldwin is already heavily on Duke's radar, a lofty proposition for many underclassmen." A.J. Griffin 6-5 • 180 • SG White Plains (N.Y.) Archbishop Stepinac Rivals' No. 10 prospect in the land Auburn, Duke, Georgetown, Kansas, Mary- land, Providence, UCLA and others have of- fered, but Griffin's brother plays at Illinois. His dad, Toronto assistant Adrian Griffin, was a longtime NBA player and is currently coaching in the League. Most believe Griffin is likely a one-and-done. Moussa Diabate 6-9 • 190 • PF Daytona Beach (Fla.) DME Academy Rivals' No. 12 recruit in the nation Michigan, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Miami, Oklahoma State and Pitt have offered the French forward. He plays with Nightrydas Elite on the AAU circuit, along with Howard's younger son, Jett. Diabate arrived in the United States in 2016, didn't start playing basketball until he was 13 years old and has tremendous upside. — Chris Balas Class Of 2021 Offers Hunter Dickinson of Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha is listed as the No. 28 overall prospect and No. 6 center in the class of 2020 by Rivals.com. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM