The Wolverine

September 2016

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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SEPTEMBER 2016 THE WOLVERINE 69   BASKETBALL RECRUITING done recruiting the 2017 class, the coaches will continue to watch oth- ers in case scholarships open in the spring. One on the list, five-star wing Kris Wilkes (6-7, Rivals.com No. 17 senior nationally) of Indianapolis North Central, eliminated the Wolverines from consideration on Aug. 14. Lincolnshire (Ill.) Stevenson four- star wing Justin Smith (6-6, No. 104 player nationally) finished his AAU career, playing well in July, and has since trimmed his list to Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Stanford, Villa- nova, Xavier and Wisconsin. All of those schools have offered except for Michigan. He was expected to receive a U-M offer Aug. 14 on a visit to Ann Arbor, but the trip was postponed indefi- nitely after Michigan landed three- star power forward Isaiah Livers. Smith has been in no hurry, so U-M could have a shot if he waits until spring. Pontiac (Mich.) Cornerstone's Ja- mal Cain (6-7, No. 76 prospect in the senior class) finished his sum- mer AAU play with an outstanding weekend at the Nike Peach Invita- tional in July. Cain has been dealing with the recent tragic death of his father, Cornerstone High head coach and The Family assistant coach Mychal Covington reported, but he has started to pick up the pieces and think about recruiting again. "He had a good summer, really played well in the [Nike] EYBL [Elite Youth Basketball League]," Covington said. "They don't re- ally have any guys committed that are actually just wings, just guards that can play wings. Those guys [four-star senior Jordan Poole and junior Eli Brooks] are more one-two combos." Marquette has been recruiting him heavily, Covington said, while Geor- gia and some other Big East and SEC schools have stayed on him, as well. One-time potential frontrun- ner Xavier has filled up at his posi- tion, and it appears there's no longer room for him. Cain, playing with The Family, averaged 26.7 points and 7.7 re- bounds, while shooting 57.8 from the floor and 48.0 percent from three-point range at the Peach In- vitational. That included a game of 10 rebounds, 28 points and 5-of-11 three-point shooting against the Georgia Stars, his third game with at least 25 points. U-M will also continue to monitor five-star Brian Bowen (6-7, No. 12 player in country). Bowen, who plays for La Porte (Ind.) La Lumi- ere, grew up an MSU fan but picked up his Michigan offer in June and insisted the Wolverines were in the mix. He averaged 18.9 points per game for MeanStreets AAU this summer. MICHIGAN OFFERS THREE MORE CLASS OF 2018 STANDOUTS Michigan coaches got the 2018 offer train rolling by extending one to East Lansing (Mich.) High four-star small forward Brandon Johns (6-7, Rivals.com's No. 28 ju- nior nationally) this summer, and they've since offered three more. Four-star point guard Cormac Ryan of Milton (Mass.) Academy, a 6-5, 190-pounder, picked one up follow- ing the Aug. 6 Michigan College Practice Camp, and Mars (Pa.) High four-star wing Robby Carmody (6-4, No. 86 talent in class of 2018) got his a few days later. Pickerington (Ohio) Central wing Jerome Hunter (6-7, Rivals.com three-star) became the fourth offeree Aug. 12 on an unofficial visit. Ryan — who averaged 21 points per game at Milton Academy and is hearing from Stanford, Notre Dame and others, in addition to U-M — put forth an outstanding perfor- mance on the AAU circuit this sum- mer with Middlesex Magic AAU. He then showed off elite shooting and passing ability and held his own against the best talent at the Michi- gan camp. He scored off the dribble with his midrange jump shot, set up teammates and even threw down a few rim-rattling dunks. Ryan was "pumped" after receiv- ing his offer, Middlesex Magic AAU coach Mike Crotty Jr. said. Crotty coached Michigan redshirt junior Duncan Robinson, as well, and heard from both Robinson and Ryan after his former players bonded a bit at the camp, with Robinson coach- ing Ryan. "After watching me for basically the entire summer and then again at camp, Coach Beilein and his staff had a meeting with me and said that I was a great fit for them and what they are trying to accomplish," Ryan said. "They said they really like my game and that they have decided to offer me a scholarship." Five-star Brian Bowen — a 6-7, 195-pound small forward at La Porte (Ind.) La Lumiere — is among the players in the class of 2017 that U-M will keep tabs on despite not cur- rently having any scholarships available. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM CLASS OF 2017 NOTES • Michigan pledge Jordan Poole (6‑4, Rivals.com No. 102 senior nationally) of La Porte (Ind.) La Lumiere, formerly of Milwaukee King, was the best player in attendance at the Michigan 2016 College Practice Camp. He's a brilliant passer and outstanding shooter. Part of the reason for his lower than expected three‑point percentage this summer (27 percent in Nike Elite Youth Basketball League play) is probably shot selection. He bombs from way out. But his swagger, his feel for the game — and again his passing — is top notch. He already has a great rapport with the Michigan players and seems like one of the guys. He won the one‑on‑one competition during the skills portion of the camp and has a great array of moves and fakes.

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