The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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54 THE WOLVERINE ❱ DECEMBER 2023 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan basketball enjoyed a good week ending Nov. 12, win- ning games against UNC-Asheville and Youngstown State, signing its two 2024 guard pledges, and then picking up a mas- sive pledge from 2024 wing Khani Rooths out of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy. Guard Christian Anderson has been a U-M pledge since his freshman year, while Durral "Phat Phat" Brooks com- mitted earlier this year. Their additions were made official on Nov. 8 as part of the early signing period for basketball prospects. Anderson, a three-star prospect and the No. 129 player and No. 16 point guard in the country for the 2024 class, ac- cording to the On3 Industry Ranking, is spending his senior year at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. He played his previous three seasons at The Lovett School in Atlanta, where he aver- aged 23.7 points per game in three seasons and notched a career-high 29.7 points per game during his sopho- more year. The elite shooter played AAU ball for Team CP3 and was a CP3 Rising Stars Camp Most Valuable Player in 2021, averaging 17.5 points in five games. " We d i s c o v e r e d C h r i s t i a n p a s s i n g through the gym on the AAU circuit," head coach Juwan Howard said. "Most talk about Chris- tian's elite level perim- eter shooting, and his range and accuracy are second to none. How- ever, he has shown high- level playmaking skills from the point guard position. The inter- national experience and success he has gained with the German national team is unprecedented. He's never backing down from a challenge. … Now that Christian is attending the historical Oak Hill Acad- emy, he is practicing and playing against some of the nation's best." Brooks is a top in-state prospect out of Grand Rapids Catholic Central. He has re- ceived a three-star grade and is rated the No. 198 player and No. 12 combo guard in the country, per the On3 Industry Rank- ing. The 6-foot-2 shooting guard led his team to a pair of state title appearances the last two years, winning it all in 2021. He averaged 20.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, earning Division 2 All-State honors. "Durral is a homegrown kid from the west side of Michigan," Howard said. "He understands the history and tradition of the program, being a Michigan Man. 'Phat Phat' has really developed into that two-way player we want in our program. He has the ability to attack defenders off the dribble and finish in the paint at a high level. He can play on or off the ball. However, what attracted us to him was his willingness to be a team guy." ❏ ❱ MICHIGAN BASKETBALL RECRUITING Michigan Signs Pair Of Guards, Picks Up Huge 2024 Pledge Big Ten Basketball's Top Early Period Signing Classes Michigan's three-man class of 2024 currently ranks as the 32nd class nationally and sixth in the Big Ten, per the On3 Industry Ranking. The Wolverines have one more scholarship avail- able for the 2024 cycle, which could come via a later recruiting addition or through the transfer portal. To date, the conference is lagging others with no entries in the top 10 nationally. That could change, of course, after the spring sign- ing period in April. Here are the top five Big Ten classes as of Nov. 12 and their top prospects: 1. Indiana (No. 12 nationally). The Hoosiers only have one pledge, but he's a good one — 6-foot-7, 205-pound forward Liam McNeely out of Richardson, Texas, now playing at Mont- verde Academy in Florida. McNeely, a former Michigan target, is On3.com's No. 15 player in its Industry Ranking, No. 7 at his position. 2. Michigan State (No. 19). Tom Izzo's Spar- tans have three pledges, including a pair of four-stars. Point guard Jase Richardson, a for- mer Michigan recruit, is the headliner, a 6-2, 175-pounder out of Denver Christopher Co- lumbus. He's the On3 Industry Ranking No. 37 player nationally. 3. Rutgers (No. 21). A surprise entry here — somewhat. The Scarlet Knights have been recruiting well under head coach Steve Pikiell. They have a five-star signee in Ace Bailey (6-9, 210, SF) out of Powder Springs, Ga. — the No. 2 player in the nation — and a trio of three-stars to go with him. This is a program on the rise. 4. USC (No. 22). Yep, the Trojans are in the Big Ten next year, and they enter with a bang. They signed a trio of four-star prospects, all from out West and all in the top 100. Los Angeles point guard Trent Perry (6-4, 175), the On3 Industry Ranking No. 53 player nationally and No. 8 point guard, is the headliner. 5. Purdue (No. 27). Matt Painter's Boilermak- ers have a pair of four-stars and a trio of three- stars, including three players in the On3 top 150. Indianapolis small forward Kanon Catch- ings (6-9, 200) is the gem of the class. He's the No. 32 player nationally, No. 12 at his position. — Chris Balas MICHIGAN MEN'S BASKETBALL 2024 RECRUITING CLASS Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School Christian Anderson* PG 5-11 155 Atlanta/Oak Hill Academy (Va.) Durral "Phat Phat" Brooks* CG 6-2 180 Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central Khani Rooths^ SF 6-8 195 Washington, D.C./IMG Academy (Fla.) * signed National Letter of Intent ^ expected to sign during late signing period (April 17-May 15, 2024) Christian Anderson (left) is the No. 129 prospect and No. 16 point guard in the country for the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Durral "Phat Phat" Brooks is rated the No. 198 prospect and No. 12 combo guard in the country. PHOTOS COURTESY ANDERSON/BROOKS FAMILIES