The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1520409
JUNE/JULY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 35 2024 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY ANTHONY BROOME C lass of 2024 guard Lorenzo "LJ" Cason rounded out the high school recruiting additions for Dusty May's first U-M roster, following the coach he formerly committed to play for at Florida Atlantic. He was released from his letter of intent to FAU after May took the Michigan job. Cason, who was a three-star pros- pect and rated as the No. 240 player in the country (On3 Industry Ranking) and No. 20 point guard (On3), played his high school ball at Lakeland (Fla.) Vic- tory Christian, averaging 24.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game. The in-state Florida Gators had inter- est prior to his commitment to FAU in August 2023, and he visited the program after reopening his recruitment. But it was the coach that he originally com- mitted to that made the most sense for his college career. May once referred to Cason as "a throwback to point guards who know when to pass, when to shoot, when to drive, when to create" and "a coach on the floor," which is an endorsement that carries a ton of weight. "I chose Michigan because of Dusty," Cason told On3's Joe Tipton. "It's hard not to want to play for a coach who be- lieves in you. He took me with him from FAU, and I think that says enough as it is. The staff is amazing, but I know the culture is going to be even better. As well as the style of play, just getting up and down the court in transition is a huge differentiator." In January 2023, the 6-3, 190-pound Cason exploded for 57 points in a 93-87 Victory Christian win over Auburndale. He started to feel it and got into a zone, scoring 42 points in the second half to show the type of player he can be when everything is firing on all cylinders. "He has an uncanny knack of just knowing the flow of the game and what the team needs," Victory Christian coach Steve Fitzgerald told The Ledger. "In the second half, he just put us on his back and it started snowballing. He gets in that zone and the basket is huge. And he's not getting easy shots. Their whole strategy is to keep him from getting the ball. Everything he's getting, he's hav- ing to work. It's very difficult to stop because he can score at all the levels." Cason might not be leaned on for a big role early on, but he could wind up be- ing one of May's foundational pieces as he continues to build the U-M program. "Lorenzo Cason is dynamic with the ball in his hands both scoring and play- making, constantly putting pressure on the defense," his former coach Darryl Hardin said, via Adam Zagoria's Zags- blog. "He is a very strong defender who makes it hard on the ball and off. He will slide over and take charges, always where he needs to be in the rotation. His IQ on defense allows him to excel when it comes to stealing the ball. We're excited to see him at the next level no matter which school he decides because he will be a big-time college player that shocks a lot of people." ❑ Cason By The Numbers • Rated as the No. 240 overall player in the country, No. 39 point guard and 20th-ranked player in the state of Florida, per the On3 Industry Ranking (a weighted average of the four major recruiting media services) … On3's own analysts have him rated as the No. 20 point guard in the country and No. 16 prospect in Florida. • According to Max Preps, Cason hit 40 percent of his threes during his senior season, attempting nearly 8 per game (76-of-189). • Averaged 24.5 points per game as a senior, 27.6 as a junior, and 27.6 as a sophomore. • Once scored 57 points in a game as a junior, adding 11 rebounds and 7 assists. — Anthony Broome Dynamic Playmaker U-M Adds Former FAU Commit Lorenzo "LJ" Cason Cason played his high school ball at Lakeland (Fla.) Victory Christian, averaging 24.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game. On3 rated him as the No. 20 point guard in the nation. PHOTO COURTESY LORENZO CASON