The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1371232
JUNE/JULY 2021 THE WOLVERINE 39 2021 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE DONOVAN CLINGAN 7-1 • 250 • C Bristol (Conn.) Central Rivals.com's No. 47 Junior Nationally Clingan averaged 27.3 points, 17.2 rebounds, 5.8 blocks and 3.1 as- sists for the 13-0 Rams to lead them to a Central Connecticut Conference title. He was named GameTimeCT.com's State Player of the Year after finishing with 101 points and 79 rebounds to lead Bristol Central to wins over then-No. 4 Windsor, No. 2 Northwest Catholic and No. 1 East Catholic. "I think Donovan is the most domi- nant player I've seen in the confer- ence over the last 15 years," ESPN. com's Adam Finkelstein said. Michigan, Ohio State, Georgetown, Syracuse, Connecticut, Providence, Rutgers and Notre Dame are his final eight. Clingan said what a coaching staff sees in him and the other re- cruits coming in will contribute to his college decision. "I want to walk on campus and be like, 'This is it; this is where I want to go,'" he said. Many believe this is a Michigan- UConn battle. Slater: "He's a traditional low-post center with above-average passing skills and court vision. Michigan seems interested in the prototype of [freshman center] Hunter Dickinson. He's not as skilled as Hunter, but he does have some of those similar attributes in terms of that skill level and being able to see the court at a certain size." JALEN DUREN 6-10 • 230 • C Montverde (Fla.) Academy Rivals.com's No. 2 Junior Nationally C o m p a r e d ( p r o b - ably unfairly) to for- mer Michigan Fab Fiver and NBA All-Star Chris Webber, Duren might be the best junior prospect in the coun- try. He transferred to Montverde af- ter spending two seasons at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia and helped lead his program to a national title along with Michigan signee Caleb Houstan. "Tough, extremely athletic, ex- tremely strong. He competes," Team Final coach Wayne Jones said when asked to give a scouting report. "He really wants to get better." Duren is most likely headed to the pros out of high school, but he's at least willing to listen to the schools recruiting him. Michigan has turned up the heat here and would love to get him on campus for a year. Slater: "He's the best big man in the country, and Michigan is in on him. I don't think he'll end up there. He's looking at the G-League route, and the others to be cognizant of are Miami and UCLA. "The Webber comparison … he may be similar physically, but Web- ber was so much more skilled at the same stage, more cerebral and played with a higher motor." SETH TRIMBLE 6-3 • 185 • PG Menomonee Falls (Wis.) High Rivals.com's No. 109 Junior Nationally The standout combo guard is an outstanding athlete with a great han- dle and midrange game. He's also explosive at the rim and much better than his No. 109 ranking. Now playing with Phenom Uni- versity-Team Herro on the AAU cir- cuit, Trimble led Menominee Falls to a 17-8 record and a berth in the Division 1 sectional finals averag- ing 23.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game during the 2020-21 season. His recent play has schools starting to lineup, just as they were for his brother, former North Caro- lina starter J.P. Tokoto. Trimble said as early as last sum- mer that U-M was the team he really liked. He noted recently Michigan was among the schools talking to him the most, and the Wolverines tendered an offer to him May 10. "Michigan and Virginia," he said of the schools he's in touch with the most. "I talk to Coach Martelli at Michigan every day. He's a very good dude — I like him a lot. I love the way Michigan plays." Slater: "I've heard him described as having a two-three game in a one- two body. I think that's dead on. He's very athletic, the brother of J.P. Tokoto, so he has that family ath- leticism. His mom was an incredible athlete. He's kind of blown up this year." TARRIS REED 6-8 • 220 • C St. Louis Chaminade Rivals.com's No. 83 Junior Nationally Reed averaged 21.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.4 as- sists per game, and led Chaminade to a 22-2 record and the seventh state semi- final appearance in school history. Many Big Ten schools, including Illi- nois and Indiana, had offered before Howard followed suit April 29. "Before I commit, I need to take some visits," Reed said. "Because of COVID, it's been difficult to go to campuses and talk to coaches face- to-face. "I am that four to five man that has the ability to create on the perim- eter as well as dominate down low. I play an inside-out game, start to get my points down low and as the de- fense adjusts, I will adjust … [to] the mid post or outside on the wing. I'm comfortable shooting the three ball in transition or off ball screens." He is just getting started in his re- cruitment and open to considering all new offers. DERECK LIVELY II 6-11 • 200 • C Westtown (Penn.) School Rivals.com's No. 45 Junior Nationally Lively recently said Kentucky, North Caro- lina, Duke, Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State were the schools recruiting him hardest. He already holds offers from the Tar Heels, Nit- tany Lions and Buckeyes, and should pick up plenty more this summer. Though he's incredibly athletic, an explosive leaper and shot blocker, Lively is intent on expanding his game. "I've been trying to show that I'm more than just a normal big man," he said. "I'm trying to move the ball outside the three-point line, dribble the ball and even shoot it … trying to be more guard-like for the NBA game." ❏