The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 55 ❱ MICHIGAN BASKETBALL RECRUITING BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan recently signed a pair of 2024 guards in Christian Ander- son and Durral Brooks and is waiting to hear if Argentinian forward Lee Aa- liya will be admitted soon. Head coach Juwan Howard and his staff continued their recruiting success with a huge pickup, landing a commitment from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy's Khani Rooths. Rooths, 6-foot-8, 195-pound, four- star wing per On3, announced his pledge on Instagram Nov. 12. He chose the Wol- verines over Georgia (SEC) and Florida State (ACC). The early signing window is open through Nov. 15, but Rooths was expected to wait to sign his National Let- ter of Intent until the late period next spring, April 17-May 15, 2024. "What made Michigan stand out the most was how I could grow as a man — not only as a basketball player, but as a man and be a professional off the court as well," Rooths said as he made his college decision on a live Instagram broadcast. "The people that I've met at Michigan — I've never met people like that before. I feel like they can help me grow as the man I need to be." Rooths transferred from Washing- ton (D.C.) Georgetown Prep to national powerhouse prep program IMG Acad- emy in Bradenton before his junior season. He can both score and defend. He averaged 4 blocks per game during December 2022's Hoophall West event, and his length and quickness allow him to stay in front of smaller players. "I defend everything, and I take pride in that," Rooths told On3's Joe Tipton. "I can attack the rim well, draw fouls, and get to the line. I'm versatile and can play multiple positions. I want to improve the most with my catch-and- shoot threes." Rooths added that he credits a lot of his success as a player to his grandfa- ther, who coached women's basketball on several different levels. "He taught me to find ways to really affect the game," Rooths said. "Some- times my shot is not going, so I've learned from him to find ways to get my teammates open. He also taught me to be really aggressive as much as I can and just show people that I am him." Rooths is rated by On3's scouts as the No. 19 prospect and No. 7 small forward nationally. He's also the No. 26 overall prospect nationally and No. 10 small forward in the 2024 On3 Industry Rank- ing, which is a weighted average of all four major recruiting services. Rooths has watched Michigan closely over the last few years. Having two wings drafted last year in Kobe Bufkin and Jett Howard went a long way toward pushing Michigan over the top, he noted, as did his relationship with Juwan Howard. An outstanding official visit during a football weekend Nov. 4 helped U-M pass previously favored Georgia, as did his interactions with Michigan players. The Washington, D.C., native is from the DMV area, which also produced current Wolverines Dug McDaniel and Terrance Williams II. Rooths said both players ad- vised him what he was getting into. "You've got to be ready to work every day. Every day is not going to be your best, but you've got to come ready to work," he said. "The coaching staff is going to help you through every day. The work is not the easiest, but it's the sup- port and the educational part as well that helps you get through it." He can't wait to learn from Howard, he added. "He's a guy with a bunch of energy," Rooths said. "Many players will say he's like another father figure that they have. He'll get on the court with you. Anything you need, he's got you. I really felt that when I was with him." And in Rooths, Howard is getting a guy who fits the program mantra — "for competitors only" — perfectly. He's got one more year of high school ball before he arrives in Ann Arbor to help the Wol- verines, where he's expected to impact as a freshman. "Khani Rooths has a great frame and great length with real positional size," Shaw reports. "The ball skills are devel- oping; however, he is getting more confi- dent with the ball in his hands. His mid- post/mid-range game is getting more dangerous. He will knock down some spot threes, and he can get downhill off the bounce. "Defensively, Rooths is really intrigu- ing. He can slide his feet with guards at the point of attack, disrupt the passing lanes, and he has the length and size to switch down to guard forwards. As you project Rooths forward, the archetype and physical tools are clear. There is an upward trajectory that he has continued to take over the past 12 or so months." And, the Wolverines' coaches hope and expect, well beyond. ❏ Wolverines Land 2024 Standout Wing Khani Rooths On3's scouts rate Rooths as the No. 19 overall prospect nationally and No. 7 small forward in the 2024 class. He committed to the Wolverines on Nov. 12 over Georgia and Florida State. PHOTO BY HOOPHALL WEST TEAM