The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/315684
2014 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE prospects or one-and-done players still aren't understanding the way the U-M staff conducts its business. "Bump is an interesting ideology, because it almost has the connotation that the guys weren't good, the ones that were here," Jordan said. "It's more affirmation that what we do works. Are you going to get a better player than Trey Burke, for example?" Without a bump, Meyer added, Michigan might have had more com- petition for the late-signing guards. "The recent success allowed us to walk in during spring after losing two kids you did not expect to lose in Nik and Glenn and immediately jump right in the middle of available kids," he said. "The bump might be in the fact that we've got games to play next year, a schedule that's very demanding and a 2014-15 season that is a very impor- tant year for this program. With Mu- hammad and Aubrey we were able to receive the benefit of a bump in the spring." Now it's time to translate it to court success, something that hasn't been a problem in recent years. The six-man class will likely play a major part if the Wolverines contend for a Big Ten title once again, and they'll get every chance to prove themselves. ❏ Top Five Big Ten Recruiting Classes 1. Maryland: The Terps will enter their first year in the Big Ten fully loaded with five four-star prospects, four of them among the nation's top 106 recruits. Romelo Trimble, a 6-3 shooting guard (Rivals.com's No. 39 senior nationally), is a tough shot maker, and fellow shooting guard Dion Wiley, a 6-4 standout (No. 55), also has great range on the wing. 2: Ohio State: The Buckeyes landed three of the nation's top 80 players, in- cluding two in 6-7 small forward Keita Bates-Diop (Rivals.com's No. 26 senior nationally) and 6-5 Jae'Sean Tate (No. 79 player in the country) that Michigan had offered. Florida 6-5 shooting guard D'Angelo Russell (No. 18 player in the class) is the headliner. 3. Indiana: Though the Hoosiers have only two ranked pledges, both are in the top 50. Marion, Ind., 6-4 shooting guard James Blackmon (Rivals.com's No. 21 senior nationally) was a Michigan offeree, and Virginia 6-3 shooting guard Robert Johnson (No. 48 player in the class) can fill it up from the outside. 4. Michigan: The Wolverines might have the Big Ten's most impressive group if the late guard additions pan out. Landing 6-8, Portland, Ore., forward Kam- eron Chatman (Rivals.com's No. 25 senior nationally) off the West Coast was a coup. 5. Michigan State: The Spartans landed three prospects within the Rivals. com top 150, led by point guard Lourawls Nairn (Rivals.com's No. 62 senior nationally). The Kansas native is exceptionally quick in the open floor. — Chris Balas