The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/362774
BASKETBALL RECRUITING Michigan continues to recruit him as hard as, if not harder than, anyone, the elder Leaf said. Indiana, UCLA, Ari‑ zona, Arizona State, Texas, Florida and Louisville are on the list, one they'll narrow to 11 in the fall. U‑M is "100 percent" guaranteed to be on it, Brad Leaf noted. The Wolverines are also guaranteed an official visit, likely in February. Consequently, the Leafs are sticking to their February date for a decision. "We're standing pat on that," he said. "T.J. doesn't want to drag it on. He wants to find out where he's going to play basketball. "The [June] Michigan visit was awesome," he continued. "I can't say anything more than that. What a place. They went over film, where they thought he would fit. We toured the campus, the facilities, things like that, and they gave him an overview of what he'd have to look forward to." They continue to work with assis‑ tant coach LaVall Jordan and Beilein on an exact date for the visit, one that could solidify the relationship be‑ tween player and program even more. On the other 2016 offerees: • U‑M still seems to lead for five‑ star point guard Derryck Thornton Jr. of Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep. The 6‑1 standout, Rivals.com's No. 11 junior nationally, broke his hand at Team USA tryouts in July, but that hasn't stopped Duke, Kentucky and others from prioritizing him. Thornton plans to make it back to Ann Arbor for a football game this fall. • Gladstone (N.J.) Gill St. Bernard shooting guard Tyus Battle (6‑5, No. 25 junior nationally) could be headed back to five‑star status after an outstanding July. Michigan is still at or near the top of his list, too, but Duke is apparently targeting him, and Syracuse, Villanova and others are strong, as well. Battle made the U.S. National Team that com‑ peted at the FIBA U‑17 World Champi‑ onships, Aug. 8‑16, in Dubai. • Campbellsville (Ky.) Taylor County point guard Quentin Goodin (6‑2, No. 59 junior nationally) has three schools in which he's very interested, his father reported in early August — Indiana, Marquette and Michigan. There's room for plenty of others on his list, his dad added, noting his son is in no hurry to decide. • Columbus (Ohio) Northland's Seth Towns (6‑7, the nation's No. 113 prospect and No. 21 small forward in the junior class according to 247Sports) picked up an Iowa offer to go with of‑ fers from U‑M, Dayton, Virginia Tech and others. It remains to be seen how Michigan will recruit him after picking up transfer Duncan Robinson (6‑7½, 200) from Williams College. • Detroit U‑D Jesuit point guard Cassius Winston (6‑0, No. 35 junior na‑ tionally) is still thought to be a Michi‑ gan versus MSU battle, but he recently visited Maryland and is in no hurry to decide. ❏ On The Web For regular reports on basketball recruiting, plus videos of all the top prospects in the nation and Michigan's commitments, visit TheWolverine.com.