The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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BASKETBALL RECRUITING The Bees were slated to face Shaker Heights (Ohio) High, a team that beat them twice in the regular season, in a state quarterfinal March 18. MICHIGAN OFFERS GERMAN STAR FOR 2015 CLASS It's been in the works for a while and rescheduled at least twice, but Jaylen Brown's visit seems like it's finally going to happen. The Mari‑ etta, Ga., Wheeler five‑star (6‑7, Rivals.com's No. 2 senior nation‑ ally) planned to be in Ann Arbor March 19‑20 for an official visit. Brown is one of five finalists for the Naismith High School Player of the Year Award, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced recently. He capped his career with the Georgia 6A state cham‑ pionship, making two free throws with 0.5 seconds remaining to give the Wildcats a 59‑58 win over Pebblebrook (Ga.) High March 7. Kentucky, Kansas and UCLA are among his leaders. Head coach John Beilein has also scouted Italian Nicola Akele of Bra‑ denton (Fla.) IMG Academy, which is coached by former U‑M assistant John Mahoney. The best bet, however, comes from overseas. Eurohopes Basketball Pros‑ pects' Vedran Modric started some Twitter buzz about German Moritz Wagner (6‑9, 200) of the Alba Ber‑ lin — specifically, that he would "go to the NCAA" and "Michigan is his No. 1 option." Beilein travelled to Germany to scout Wagner in the fall. "The kid is long, has a great un‑ derstanding of the game, a very high ball IQ and very good shooting form [lacks consistency at the moment]. Solid athleticism," Modric reported of Wagner via Twitter direct mail. Michigan chased German Robin Benzing in 2009 and had him com‑ mitted, but Benzing came up just short on his qualifying tests. Modric said Wagner's English is "very good" and he shouldn't have the same problem. However, Modric is not certain when a commitment would be finalized. Wagner has been offered a pro‑ CLASS OF 2016 NOTES • Five-star shooting guard Tyus Battle of Gladstone (N.J.) Gill St. Ber- nard School continues to battle inju- ries. He was in a walking boot while his teammates captured the Somer- set County Tournament champion- ship March 13, edging No. 14 Ridge (N.J.) High 48-39. The 6-6 Battle, Ri- vals.com's No. 15 junior nationally, recently cut his list to Connecticut, Duke, Louisville, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Syracuse. • Michigan target and five-star ju- nior shooting guard Joshua Lang- ford (6-6, Rivals.com's No. 20 junior nationally) earned tournament MVP honors with a near triple-double, notching 19 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in leading Madison Academy to a 3A state title in Alabama. He still has U-M among his top four with Flor- ida, Michigan State and possibly Alabama. Langford averaged 24.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game this season.