The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/629217
BASKETBALL RECRUITING started and finished strong in a 56‑53 Jan. 15 win over Holt and 2017 three‑star big man Jar‑ ron Faulds — another prospect U‑M is watch‑ ing 15. Johns scored eight of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, this af‑ ter being held scoreless in the third, to lead East Lansing back from 12 down. "I challenged him at halftime for the first time this year," East Lansing head coach Steve Finamore said. "I didn't think he was giving everything he had. He was about 75 percent in the first half — in the sec‑ ond half he came alive. "He's a great player. He just needs a positive push every now and then." Johns came out firing and hit three first‑half triples on his way to 13 points in a back‑and‑forth affair. Faulds, meanwhile, picked it up in the second quarter to score seven of his nine first half points and give Holt a 31‑28 lead. He scored on of‑ fensive putbacks and even drove the length of the court for a strong finish to keep the Rams ahead. Holt led by as many as 12 in the third quarter, 40‑28, before Fina‑ more's team came alive, especially Johns. The sophomore's steal and triple cut a 48‑44 lead to one point … his offensive rebound and putback brought East Lansing (8‑0, No. 10 in the state in Class A) all the way back, and his free throw on the next trip capped his own per‑ sonal 6‑0 run that made it 50‑48. Holt extended the lead to 54‑48 on two more Johns' free throws — he rebounded Faulds' missed jumper and was fouled — but Faulds tip‑ in with 35 seconds re‑ maining kept the Rams alive. "I wasn't feeling well in the first half," Johns said, noting he was suffering from stomach cramps. "But when we got down I felt like I wasn't doing enough. I knew I had to pick it up and lead my team to a win." Johns also ripped down four re‑ bounds in the fourth quarter in play‑ ing more aggressively. Faulds was a beast on the glass throughout, fin‑ ishing with 16 caroms to go with 11 points and four blocked shots. Johns' recruitment is "wide open" — Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State are among those on his list — while Faulds holds offers from CMU, Toledo, DePaul, Oak‑ land and others and is hearing from Vanderbilt, U‑M, MSU, Iowa and Northwestern. ❏ On The Web For regular reports on Michigan basketball recruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets visit TheWolverine.com. JOHNS