The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JUNE/JULY 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 39 2026 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan coach Dusty May has landed elite talent from the prep ranks in his first two years, including three McDonald's All-Americans. Here are five backcourt prospects he's offered from the 2027 class, noting where things stand and where they rank in the Rivals Industry Ranking, which weighs the three major recruiting services (Rivals, 247 Sports and ESPN). CAYDEN DAUGHTRY 6-0 • 160 • PG Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Calvary Christian Ranking: No. 17 player nationally Daughtry had a huge game at EYBL Atlanta in late April, going off for 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. He averaged 29.1 points and 5.2 assists in Overtime Elite League play this sea- son and continues to raise his stock. Daughtry has visited Michigan and Miami, while Iowa and Florida State are also on his short list. "I learned that they are geared to win," he said of his trip to U-M. "I went on my visit in the fall when they were playing their pre- season games, and I saw how they were play- ing and how they had so much size. They had a lot of pieces, and they just played really well together. "Everyone has seen the video of Dusty May telling everyone, 'Just make the right play — don't do all that other stuff,' which I love. Nobody's too selfish. Everyone is there for one goal, and that is to win. It was good to see that even when Elliot Cadeau had his downs this year and didn't play as well, the coaches trusted him to do what he does, and he bounced back to win the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four." DAVION THOMPSON 6-2 • 175 • PG Branson (Mo.) Link Academy Ranking: No. 20 Thompson averaged 13.6 points on 40.7 per- cent shooting from three in Nike EYBL Scholas- tic games with Link Academy this season. He's taken unofficial visits to Michigan, Michigan State, Arkansas and Indiana, and says he's also hearing a lot from Oklahoma and Oregon. "Dusty May stood out to me, and [assistant] Coach Akeem [Miskdeen]," he said. "I've had a bond with him for a long time. I've been able to see how they practice and how they com- pete, the lifts that they do, their nutrition, and all that … They've got a great program. "They're building new stuff, so a lot of their facilities were getting redone when I went there. Their weight room was legit, and that's one of the things I'm trying to focus on, get- ting stronger. They like how I can play on or off the ball, make plays off the bounce for myself and others." JAXSON DAVIS 6-1 • 165 • PG Gurnee (Ill.) Warren Township Ranking: No. 47 Davis is playing with the Meanstreets pro- gram this summer on Nike's EYBL Circuit and has taken unofficial visits to Michigan State, Michigan, Marquette and Northwestern. He also plans to visit Missouri. Davis, the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois, also received the 2026 Chicago Sun-Times Basketball Player of the Year award. He averaged around 24 points per game as a junior and put up a whopping 51 in a game at the Big Dipper Holiday Tournament champion- ship game in December Though he's visited MSU several times, Michigan is firmly in contention. "Their intensity stands out," Davis said. "When I went to their practice, their intensity throughout the whole practice was amazing. They were playing hard the whole time, and guys were having fun. "Coach Dusty May is a really smart coach. Elliot Cadeau is a really good facilitator. … He led that team, and they really needed him to be as good as he was. And … they won." DEVIN CLEVELAND 6-3 • 160 • SG La Porte (Ind.) La Lumiere Ranking: No. 27 The Chicago native led La Lumiere in scor- ing with 15.3 points a game on 47.0 percent shooting from three-point range in EYBL Scho- lastic League games. He said he's hearing most from Michigan, Arkansas and Marquette, but the Wolverines have made a great impression. "It's like a family there, a real good broth- erhood," Cleveland said. "You see the way Yaxel Lendeborg and all the players just bond with each other. Dusty May, it's kind of self- explanatory the way he coaches, and Elliot Cadeau got his confidence back over the year. That just shows how good a coach May is and how great a person." Cleveland is also hearing from South Car- olina, Auburn and Gonzaga. He has yet to schedule any visits. "I'll probably start setting my official visits this summer … see where I fit in," he said. "I want to go somewhere I don't have to change my game completely. I know I'll have to go to a school and adapt to what they do, but at the same time … I want the chance to play and to trust the coach." KING GIBSON 6-4 • 180 • CG Geneva (Ohio) SPIRE Academy Ranking: No. 2 Gibson was at Michigan in mid-April, but the Wolverines still seem to be trailing a few other schools on his list. "I've been hearing from schools like UConn, Baylor, and Arkansas. Schools like that," Gib- son said. "I want to start looking at my official visits a little bit this summer, but going into the fall, I'll definitely be honing in on different schools and getting out to see them more. "I am looking for a lot of transparency with a school. A coach who is honest with me. Skill development will be big for me, for sure. I want to go somewhere I know that I am going to get better when I'm there. The play style will be a factor as well. I want to go to a place where I know that I will fit, and with a coach that will allow me to be me." ❑ Jaxon Davis was named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 23.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.5 steals per game during a 30-4 season for Warren High. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS Five Class Of 2027 Backcourt Prospects To Watch