The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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38 THE WOLVERINE JUNE/JULY 2021 2021 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ardson, U-M is in a really good spot. Rodgers admitted his interest level in the Wolverines is extremely high. "Michigan is a great school," Rod- gers said. "Juwan Howard is a great coach. I really like Michigan right now. They are recruiting me really hard … it's a great culture. I love ev- erything about it." Slater: "I think Michigan feels good about him. He offers some of the physicality and defensive re- bounding you like. He likes to face up on offense, but he needs to work on his perimeter shooting. He does provide a high motor, is a versatile defender … somebody who can crash the glass. "I think this is an old-school battle between Michigan and Syracuse, which we haven't seen in a number of years." ERIC DAILEY JR. 6-7 • 220 • PF Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy Rivals.com's No. 23 Junior Nationally Dailey has been high on Michigan since last fall, and he comes from a basketball family. His dad played overseas several years, while his mom has WNBA playing and coach- ing experience and is director of the girls' program at IMG. "I like Michigan," he said. "Having Jett [Howard] on my team helps that. It helps me be familiar with Michigan and comfortable. That's a good con- nection to have. Also, they have a pro coaching them. He's been where I'm trying to go." U-M and Florida State are two of the programs making a push. Dailey was a complementary player for IMG this year. Case in point: he shot it only shot five times in a GEICO Nationals quarterfinal game but made two triples and was 2 of 2 from the line to score eight points. He notched five points on only five shots, including another triple, in the semifinals. Slater: "He's much more of a two/ three than a power forward. He's a strong, relatively skilled, powerful wing who can play either wing posi- tion. His parents both played profes- sionally, and his father has trained him since birth, basically. "I know he's really looked heavily into the overseas option, specifically Spain for his son. I do think if he goes to college, Michigan would be a major player." GREGG GLENN III 6-7 • 210 • PF Pompano Beach (Fla.) Calvary Christian Rivals.com's No. 52 Junior Nationally Glenn averaged 13.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this year and holds offers from Michigan, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech and more. He's not a shooter but does a lot of things well to help his team win. "I would describe my game as a hard-nosed player," he said. "I am versatile. I can get to the basket when I want. In the paint I can score mul- tiple ways. My shot is getting better, and I am one of the best passers in the country. "I play defense well, I bring en- ergy and excitement to the floor. People say I play like [NBA players] Draymond Green, PJ Washington and others." Slater: "I was at USA tryouts when he made the team. It's fair to say he's one of those jack-of-all-trades, hybrid forwards. He's very competitive. He needs to improve his skill level, not only to be a successful college player but also if he wants to get to the NBA level. His perimeter shot has got to become more consistent. "He's definitely a hybrid four, but if he continues to struggle to shoot, he's going to be strictly a four." JARACE WALKER 6-6 • 220 • SF Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy Rivals.com's No. 11 Junior Nationally U-M joins North Caro- lina, Auburn and Mary- land among the teams Walker has told report- ers are prioritizing him. He talks to U-M coaches three or four times a week and is interested in see- ing the campus. He has been rumored to be think- ing about reclassifying to 2021, but at present he's still a 2022. He doesn't plan on cutting his list until he takes visits, which probably won't happen until later in the year. He also wants to hear more from Kentucky. Slater: "He's much more physi- cally dominating than the others on this list. He can defend more from two through four. His upside is higher than some of the others, and while his motor can be high, it's spo- radic. "I like his upside. If he was at Michigan, he would be a good fit from the standpoint that they'd be demanding of him and be able to develop his weakness." AJ CASEY 6-8 • 200 • PF Chicago Whitney Young Rivals.com's No. 21 Junior Nationally An outstanding ath- lete and shot blocker, Casey has visited Il- linois and Purdue, but he wants to see more schools this summer. He'd like to visit Michigan and Ohio State in ad- dition to Illinois and Purdue again. "I have a great connection with Coach Howard," Casey said. "We're both Chicago people, so that relation- ship is really tight. He's been really cool over the phone. "He doesn't care too much about basketball. We talk a lot about per- sonal things. Of course, we do talk about basketball, but I like that he's cool and personal." Casey said the Wolverines stand out because of fit. He's a power for- ward with the versatility to play mul- tiple spots on the floor and a fan of Howard's NBA style. "I like the fast-paced offense," Casey said. "They like to go up and down. That really fits my game. That fast-paced style is the new way to play basketball. They play through their forwards, so that's a key thing with me." Slater: "He's a mobile big who has the potential to be a quality or plus shot blocker and the versatility to be either a four or five. He can really run the court. Ultimately, in college, he'll probably be better served being a five. "That 12- to 15-footer jumper you have to be able to knock down if you're a four man … it's not great at this point. But he is legitimately being pursued as a possibility for Michigan."