The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 57 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY CHRIS BALAS Y e a r s a g o , f o r m e r Michigan coach John Beilein took a chance on an unheralded recruit late in the recruiting process who turned out to be an elite wing and longtime pro. Michigan fans hope current coach Dusty May found his own Caris LeVert (former U-M standout still in the NBA) in 2025 Fort Lauder- dale (Fla.) Sagemont Prep guard Patrick Liburd, a former Coastal Carolina pledge who committed to Michigan and joined the team this summer. Liburd is truly an under- the-radar pledge, unranked by all the recruiting ser- vices when he announced his commitment May 16. As a junior, he helped lead Sagemont Prep to a 25-6 record and the 2023-24 F H SA A C l a s s 2 A s ta te championship, averaging 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. This past season, Liburd averaged 16.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 blocks per game for the Lions, which finished 22-8 and won the FHSAA Class 1A state championship. The talented 6-foot-6, 180-pound wing had offers from Murray State and opportunities to play for Cornell and Princeton before initially picking Coastal Carolina, but high majors came after him when he decommitted. He eventually chose the Wolverines over Florida State. "It was definitely a tough choice be- cause of the opportunity FSU was of- fering me, because of the role I would've had and the coaching staff is amaz- ing," Liburd said, adding that bonding with the Michigan staff made it easier. "[U-M assistant] Coach [Kyle] Church was the one who initially contacted me. He's a really cool guy, easy to talk to. He did a great job with everything with the application, with talking to me and my family. He did a really good job of mak- ing a connection early. "And [Dusty May], he's a great coach. He's definitely very knowledgeable. He's a cool guy, really down-to-earth and he really explained everything well. He laid out the role I would have and the experience I would have and the devel- opment I would have there." Liburd joined the U-M team on cam- pus in June and was running with them when we caught him during a June 13 practice. Though he's got his work cut out for him to play as a freshman, he's long, athletic and can really shoot the ball. He shot a remarkable 49 percent from three-point range his senior year and works on his craft daily. "I try to shoot 500 shots a day," he said. "… [But] I'm definitely a slasher. I can get into the paint and create. I do a lot of rebounding on the offensive and defensive side. I'm more of like an energy guy, so I try to do a lot of little things to help the team win." Liburd also played for SOH Elite, which placed third at the Under Armour Next AAU Circuit, averaging 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. "Defense is really the most important part of my game," he continued. "I take pride in my defense, and I feel like defense is first for me. "I feel like I'm a real high- flyer and quick jumper. My strength and conditioning coach really got me right this year, helping me with my speed and athleticism." Following his pledge, Liburd said he couldn't go anywhere without bump- i n g i n to so m e o n e wh o knew about the Michigan program. The community and the opportunity after basketball was one thing May stressed, and Liburd was thrilled to become a part of it. At the same time, he's not just happy to be here. He plans to compete, ar- riving with a chip on his shoulder after being largely overlooked during the re- cruiting process. "It really kept me humble and to keep my head down and keep working. It was a blessing in disguise for me," he said. "And I know there's a lot of great talent at Michigan, and it'll definitely be chal- lenging to get on the court, but Coach [May] let me know that I would defi- nitely be in the mix. It's really just based on how everybody does. Nobody has a starting spot or anything like that, so everybody can work for their minutes." May, meanwhile, is extremely ex- cited to coach him and see what he can become. "We've had trouble getting the long, rangy wings, the three-and-D type wings," he said. "There aren't a lot of them out there. That's why the NBA is constantly looking for them, as well. He has skill, he has shooting ability, and he's a hard worker. "So, from an intangibles standpoint, he's just someone that we felt like could really develop, especially if he's patient this year and learning from these older guys who play the game at a high level." ❑ Late 2025 Wing Commit Patrick Liburd Brings Great Potential Liburd helped lead Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Sagemont Prep to back-to-back state championships at the 2A and 1A levels. He averaged 16.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 block per game as a senior. PHOTO COURTESY PATRICK LIBURD