The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2016 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Players To Watch BRIAN BOWEN, SF 6-6 • 175 LaPorte (Ind.) La Lumiere Rivals.com No. 14 junior nationally Beilein has been front and center at a number of Bowen's games this spring, but he'll have his work cut out to pry him away from Michigan State and others. Bowen is the c o u s i n o f f o r m e r Spartans standout and NBA player Ja- son Richardson, and "Tugs" as he's called — a Saginaw, Mich., native — has been going to MSU games all his life. Bowen is playing with MeanStreets AAU and has averaged 19.6 points per game through seven contests. He's shooting 47.4 percent from the floor, 61.1 percent from the free throw line and 25.9 percent from three-point range. "I'm trying to show coaches that I'm working hard, that I can knock down shots and I'm aggressive on both ends," Bowen said. "I just want to try and continue to improve the rest of the summer, and I hope that pays off." Both Beilein and MSU head coach Tom Izzo did in-home visits with him recently. He's hoping to narrow his list this summer, but more schools continue to reach out, so he's keeping his options open currently. "Schools like Maryland, Villanova and Kansas are coming in late, but I really want to give them the same op- portunity as the others and see what they have to offer," he said. "Ideally, I'm just looking for the school that puts me in position to make it to the next level." Bowen listed Michigan State, UCLA, Duke and Kentucky as the four schools recruiting him the hard- est, and Bossi believes the Spartans are the team to beat. "That seems to be a fit for him, but Brian Bowen is a fit for anywhere," he said. "He's just a stud. He's been outstanding. He had a very good high school year, backed it up with a terrific spring. "One of the questions about him was, 'Is he tough? Does he want to use his body, or hang out and shoot jumpers?' He's answered that by playing much tougher, using his body to his advantage around the rim." Many believe this is an MSU and Kentucky battle. JUSTIN ROBERTS, PG 5-11 • 170 Indianapolis Pike Rivals.com three-star prospect The Wolverines will need an- other point guard in the 2017 class to complement 2016 signee Xavier Simpson, and Roberts could fit the bill. He played off the ball for much of his junior year while averaging 17.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 as- sists per game, but he can play both guard positions, calling point guard his natural spot. "I think that's where my skills are,"