The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/201975
basketball recruiting to Michigan State over the Oct. 18 weekend. He was slated to visit U‑M, but the Wolverines hadn't offered. The Wolverines also remain involved with Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep forward Jonah Bolden, an Australian transplant whose father played high school ball in Flint, Mich. His dad was on campus in September to look around, and he was impressed with what he saw. "The No. 62 overall player in the class of 2014, Bolden has size, length and athleticism in a package similar to that of Portland Trail Blazer Nicolas Batum," Bossi reported. His father, Bruce Bolden, via email, told Rivals.com that his son would focus on a group of 10: Arizona, Auburn, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Oregon State, SMU, UCLA, UNLV and Vanderbilt. He has to get his academics in order and take his tests before taking visits, and he plans to sign in the spring period. South Carolina Junior Is High On Michigan Michigan head coach John Beilein and his staff have made inroads with several top prospects in the 2015 and 2016 classes, many of them from the Midwest. The Wolverines aren't limited to recruiting close to home, however, and they've proven it many times over. Portland, Ore., four-star and class of 2014 wing Kameron Chatman was the latest evidence, pledging to Michigan over Arizona, Oregon, USC and others. U‑M coaches have also made strides with some players on the East Coast, including Columbia (S.C.) Spring Valley four-star shooting guard P.J. Dozier (6‑4, 180, Rivals. com's No. 33 overall prospect in the 2015 class). Dozier was relegated to the sidelines this summer with a torn ACL and will miss the season, but the Michigan coaches weren't swayed. They were the first to visit Dozier during the early fall period. "He's doing well," his father, Perry Dozier Sr., reported. "It's not just the physical part but the mental aspect that's hard, the waiting around. He's never been in that situation before. Thankfully he's doing well. We're not going to push him this year, but he's rehabbing, getting into the wright room and going to get himself stronger in the upper body. He's got a great spirit and he's eager to get back, but we're going to pump the brakes a bit." It might have been a blessing in disguise, Dozier Sr. added, in that the knee had been weak for a long time. Now it's repaired, and his son will be back stronger than ever. U-M assistant coach Jeff Meyer made an impact, moving the Wolverines way up his list. "They're definitely, big time in the running," Dozier Sr. said. "Coach Meyer made a great impression. P.J. was interested before, but what was impressive was the overall spirit when he gave his presentation on Michigan. I think P.J. was really blown away by the fan aspect, the facilities. That's definitely one of the schools he's looking at visiting."