The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JUNE / JULY 2022 THE WOLVERINE 25 2022 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE too. But I really think he's a role-play- ing glue piece that elevates everything around him." TARRIS REED JR., GREGG GLENN III PROVIDE UNIQUE SKILLS, VERSATILITY On the front line, Howard hasn't had any problem finding big men who want to play for him. Every one of them he's recruited has improved dramatically in the post, and even guys he inherited like Austin Davis came a long way. Tarris Reed should be the next in that lineage, Shaw believes. The Branson (Mo.) Link Year Prep big man (6-9, 230, No. 26) has risen from fringe top-100 recruit to borderline five-star in the past year and a half. "He lost weight and got his condition- ing right and really bought into what he is and who he is as a player," Shaw said. "He's a big, thick, strong guy with bear claws for hands, and he's got touch. He goes out and sets good screens, plays tough in the paint. He has a little more vertical pop than you would expect him to have. He's not great laterally, but his footwork is not bad." And now Reed can shoot the three, Shaw added. "He'll go back to the basket left and right hand or pick and pop trail three type stuff, as well. He continuously progressed from this time last year … and his con- fidence is really making it all come to- gether." People tend to look at recruits on the whole, Martelli noted. The coach believes Reed's value is most evident in examining the small parts. "He's an incredible screener. He's great at pivoting around the basket," Martelli said. "He blocks out on every single play, and he shows on every ball screen. He's vocal defensively." He's not going to power dunk on some- one or score at will in the post like Dick- inson, the coach added, but his value will show in other ways. "He's going to block out on every play, and he's going to rotate defensively on every play," Martelli said. "I just like the way he has been coached and the way he has accepted coaching, and he knows what he is. He's a low post player in a game where that's almost gone now. But he's coming to a program and a coach who emphasizes that and knows how to use him." Glenn (6-7, 214, No. 133) was an early bloomer who needs to prove he can guard at the next level and still has a long way to go offensively. At the same time, like Michigan junior-to-be Terrance Wil- liams, he finds ways to impact games. Glenn was the leading scorer in the championship game (18 points) for a loaded Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Calvary Christian team. "He showed some things this year I really didn't know about," Martelli said. "He's another one of those guys with multiple skills. He's not going to be pigeonholed, like Terrance. Is he a four? I guess. Is he a three? I guess. But I know he's a player. I was happy to see that Gregg had success this year." Glenn is a "good rebounder and a great passer," Shaw added. "Offensively, I don't know how he scores, but he's got some unique abilities to his game, which kind of makes him intriguing." The same word could be used for the entire class, one that figures to keep Michigan in contention for conference titles over the next several years. ❏ Michigan Coaching Staff Earns High Marks For Its Efforts Basketball recruiting has never been easy, but it's even harder in this era of im- mediate transfer eligibility and kids with eyes on the pros. Michigan head coach Juwan Howard and his staff, however, continue to bring in high-level recruits that fit what they want to do. On3 analyst Jamie Shaw is among those impressed with his approach. "He's recruiting at a high level. He continuously gets good kids," he said. "Last year, he recruited a class that was kind of one-and-done heavy, or so they thought coming in … and I like this class a lot because now he's bringing in multi-year guys [to complement them]. There are multiple guys in this class that have the potential to be three-year starters and win a lot of games. You have to have those types of guys on the team." It takes star power, too, and there are some with that next-level potential in big man Tarris Reed Jr. and wing Jett Howard. Point guard Dug McDaniel and forward Gregg Glenn III have unique skills, as well. "There are guys that are just under the NBA radar but high-level college play- ers. They'll stay for two or three years so he can get that continuity," Shaw said. "I think Tarris Reed has got a chance to be a star. Jett Howard is somebody who has a chance to be a really, really good college player that wins a ton of games. "The other kids have unique stuff to them, but both have question marks where they could just soar and be great players." Overall, he said, "it's a really good class." "This is the type of class with the ability you need to continue the upward tra- jectory of the program," Shaw noted. How much they'll contribute in Year 1 remains to be seen, but there's plenty of talent — and great character accompanying it. — Chris Balas Gregg Glenn III, now a 6-7 forward, was an early bloomer who played for the Team USA U16 squad in the 2019 FIBA Americas tournament. PHOTO COURTESY USA BASKETBALL