The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 55 ❱ BASKETBALL RECRUITING 39.8 percent (37-of-93) from three, making him one of the top prospects in his class. Michigan might now be playing catch-up for the 6-8, 185-pound small forward out of Lebanon (Ohio) Western Reserve, who is rated the No. 6 overall prospect and No. 2 small forward in the Rivals Industry Ranking. TWO 2026 RECRUITS STILL ON THE RADAR Michigan is firmly in the mix with one other 2026 recruit who still has visit plans — Gainesville (Fla.) The Rock School's Joseph Hartman. Florida as- sistant coach Carlin Hartman's son, the 6-5, 175-pound shooting guard visited visit Dayton Aug. 28, Butler Sept. 9, Iowa Sept. 12, Minnesota Sept. 16, and was set for Michigan Oct. 3. Hartman rose from outside the top 150 to No. 77 after an outstanding sum- mer in which he averaged 13.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game on the AAU circuit for Austin Rivers Southeast Elite out of Orlando. He shot 44 percent from three-point range on 4.2 attempts a game. Word has it, too, that the Wolver- ines are trying to get in the thick of it with elite wing Brandon McCoy, a 6-4, 180-pound combo guard who recently announced his transfer to Sierra Canyon (Calif.) from Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco Prep. McCoy could be a tough pull given that he's Rivals' top combo guard and No. 2 overall player in the country and has the best of the best already recruiting him. He took an official visit to Arkansas in early September, another to Duke last November, and was reportedly slated to visit Miami Sept. 19 weekend. The Hurricanes seem to have made a move here and will be one to watch closely, Rivals analysts predicted. From Shaw: "McCoy missed a majority of the high school season and all the spring travel season, making his return with USA Basketball [this summer]. He played a team-low 9.6 minutes per game with USA Basketball, but the 6-foot-4 guard showed himself to still possibly be the top on-ball defender in the 2026 recruit- ing cycle. "Playing in July with the Arizona Unity team, McCoy averaged 19.7 points on 55.7 percent shooting. He was a terror get- ting into the paint, scoring 1.093 points per possession. He was quickly able to turn defense into offense, guarding full court and making life for the opposing ball handler uncomfortable. He also con- sistently put the defense on their heels, collapsing the team and making a play." McCoy averaged 15.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in limited action at St. John Bosco. He averaged 22 points, 6.4 re- bounds, 1.4 assists and a steal per game at Nike EYBL Peach Jam, shooting 59 percent from the field and 33 percent from long range. Michigan, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, NC State, and USC are among schools to monitor, per Tipton's reporting in late August. "I expect him to visit Alabama and Arkansas in September and would also anticipate the local USC grabbing a visit at some point, as well," Tipton reported. "Kansas is also in the process of lining up a visit too. There aren't any favorites currently, and his recruitment is one that might not be wrapped up soon." FORMER TARGETS NO LONGER ON THE BOARD A few Michigan offerees have commit- ted to other schools in the last few weeks, starting with Moundville (Ala.) Hale Country small forward Gage Mayfield. The 6-7, 190-pounder, Rivals' No. 64 overall recruit and rising in the rankings, committed to Oklahoma Sept. 19 after a visit to Norman the previous week- end. He had already visited Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Florida State, and was set to see Michigan next. Tampa (Fla.) Zephyrhills Christian Academy power forward Toni Bryant, meanwhile, pledged to Missouri Sept. 8. The 6-10, 215-pounder and No. 33 over- all prospect had cut his list to Mizzou, Arizona, North Carolina and NC State before pledging to the Tigers after his official visit to the school. Finally, former point guard target Carlos Medlock Jr., a three-star pros- pect and Michigan native, commit- ted to Michigan State in late July over Michigan, Tennessee, Creighton, Iowa and Washington, among others. The Branson (Mo.) Link Academy 5-11, 170-pounder is Rivals' No. 76 player nationally in the industry ranking, up from No. 173 pre-summer. ❑ Anthony Thompson, a five-star prospect (Rivals' No. 2 small forward and the No. 6 overall player) from Lebanon (Ohio) Western Reserve, visited Michigan the weekend of Sept. 6. PHOTO BY MICK WALKER/RIVALS