The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/666058
BASKETBALL RECRUITING Cain comes from a tight‑knit, bas‑ ketball family. His mom, aunt and uncle all played the game, and they'll follow his career wherever it takes him, Covington said. Cain didn't grow up with tracking Final Four brackets, etc., but he does know Michigan, having witnessed it from just down the road. "He likes Michigan a lot," Coving‑ ton said. "He's made a connection with Coach Beilein and Coach Bacari [Alexander]. "He's from here. He doesn't really know about high‑level basketball be‑ cause he started late, but being from Michigan he knows a little of the history, being up to Crisler [Center]. He's ready to see more." Beilein's eyes were opened by what he saw during the workout, Covington added. "Coach Beilein was real impressed when Jamal was shooting," Coving‑ ton said. "We worked on more than just standstill catch and shoot … he's moving and scoring, and he's developing more range as he gets stronger." Cain likes Xavier a lot, too, and the success the program has had with Michigan kids like Jalen Reynolds and Edmond Sumner isn't lost on him. Michigan State seems on the verge of making him a priority, as well, and planned to watch him closely at the first Nike EYBL event, held in Brooklyn, N.Y., April 15‑17. But Cain and Beilein are on the same page, and the relationship is growing. "Coach Beilein told him he wants to get him on campus and paint a clearer picture of how they see him fitting in," Covington said. Cain is expected to take that trip to Ann Arbor April 27, and it's likely he'll be offered then. More schools are sure to get involved after the spring and summer AAU seasons. He currently holds tenders from Xavier, Georgia, Oakland and others. "I think he's somewhat compa‑ rable to Glenn Robinson III at the same age," Rivals.com's Eric Bossi said. "He's long, a high flyer who can really finish at the rim and has enough of a jump shot to keep de‑ fenders honest. His ball handling is developing, and he's a pretty good competitor and will get on the glass." Cain averaged 26.5 points and more than 15 rebounds per game as a junior. Another junior, Kyle Young (6‑7, Rivals.com's No. 139 player in the 2017 class and rising), and his Mas‑ sillon (Ohio) Jackson team finished 21‑5 with a loss in the state district finals to Canton (Ohio) McKinley. Young earned his Michigan offer in December after playing extremely well in front of Beilein. "Coach Beilein saw him play in a couple of games," McKinley head coach Tim Debevec said. "A lot of coaches get out, but when the head coach comes a couple times to some games and open gyms, you know he's serious. "Kyle is a great kid, and he is ex‑ cited about the process and recruit‑ ing right now. "It's going to get crazy now for