The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
BASKETBALL RECRUITING Homestead head coach Chris John- son believes the sky is the limit for his senior. "Caleb has really improved his stamina, and he's really in shape," Johnson said. "He's nowhere near where he was a year ago. He worked extremely hard to put himself in posi- tion where he is today. He's one of the better players in the nation, and he's going to go and play at a big-time level in college. His ultimate goal is to go play pro basketball." Swanigan averaged 17.7 points and 12.0 rebounds per game during NIKE EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League) play during the AAU season. Michi- gan would have to get him on campus to have a shot. JUNIOR RECRUITS ARE NARROWING LISTS Michigan has already landed one top-100 player in the 2016 class in Medina (Ohio) High center Jon Teske (6-11, 215, Rivals.com's No. 97 junior nationally), but it appears the Wol- verines will have to wait a while for a commitment from a second. One of their primary targets, El Cajon (Calif.) Foothills Christian forward T.J. Leaf (Rivals.com's No. 17 junior prospect and a five-star nationally), was sched- uled to announce his decision Nov. 21 between his five finalists, and U-M is no longer a team to beat. The 6-8 Leaf was slated to take an of- ficial visit to Michigan in February and has been on campus twice, but visits to Florida and Arizona have changed his timetable. Duke and UCLA are the other two on the forward's list. Michigan moved to the top of Leaf's list after a summer visit. His dad and coach, Brad Leaf, even said U-M had made a great impression and ac- knowledged his son could be a great fit in Ann Arbor. That's since changed. Some now be- lieve the Wildcats and Gators are his leaders, with Arizona the favorite. His father said in September that his son had only the one official visit set — to U-M — and that he'd like to decide as early as February. "That's the plan," he said in late Oc- tober when asked if the official visit to Michigan was still on. But it's not the plan anymore. In other 2016 news, Gladstone (N.J.) Gill St. Bernard School's Tyus Battle (6-5, Rivals.com's No. 15 junior prospect) has narrowed his list to 11 schools, and Michigan is one of them. Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Ohio State, Villa- nova, Syracuse and Virginia are the others, and while a decision doesn't seem imminent, it's not out of the question. "Maybe, but maybe not," Gary Battle said of the potential of his son further reducing his options. "He may cut the list again or he may just pick a school. The process changes as things go along. "You know when you know. He could decide tomorrow, the summer- time or next high school basketball season. I felt like, and he felt like, it was time to narrow his list." There might be a leader or two, Mr. Battle said, but they were keeping it under wraps. He still wants his son