The Wolverine

December 2016

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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62 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2016   BASKETBALL RECRUITING "He's not soft or anything like that by any means. I just always feel like any big guy with face-up skill, the game goes so much easier for them if they get a couple tough buckets around the rim early. They make you work near the glass and then say, 'Now I'm going to step out and get the defense to step out.' The more than he does that, the better it will be for his game." Michigan's first pledge in the class, shooting guard Jordan Poole (6-4, Ri- vals.com's No. 95 senior nationally) spent three seasons at Milwaukee King High School under coach Jim Gosz. He will finish his prep career at La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., a high-profile program under coach Shane Heirman. Poole helped lead King to a 61-11 three-year record and back-to-back Milwaukee City titles and regional championships in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, King won the a sectional title and advanced to the Wisconsin Divi- sion 1 semifinals. Poole averaged 18.2 points per game last year, was named a to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Asso- ciation Division 1 All-State team and was an Associated Press All-State honorable mention selection. "Jordan is one of those versatile players who could have an imme- diate impact with our program," Beilein said. "He is an elite-level passer who finds ways to score while continuing to work on other aspects of his game. He is a confident per- son on and away from the court. His outgoing personality helps people naturally gravitate to him. "Playing at La Lumiere for this fi- nal season gives Jordan a chance to play with and against some of the top players in the country. Jordan is a true combo guard who we sense will be a fixture in our backcourt for years to come." Poole, who remained solid on his commitment throughout, has grown an inch in the last year. "I think he's a good fit," Bossi said. "Everyone talks about his ability to shoot the ball deep and a little bit off the dribble, and that he's a big guard. "I think what Michigan might like most is that while he won't neces- sarily play point guard, he's a play- maker and someone who will re- ally keep that ball moving in their offense, identify openings and find open players. A big key to them is getting the ball moving from side to side and opening up space. I think he's good at doing that." Poole has gotten quick with the trigger at times and isn't afraid to shoot from deep — as in 25 feet or so. He's a pure shooter, however, and deadly within his range. "The shot selection may be ques- tionable at times, but I think hope- fully this year at La Lumiere where he's playing with so many other good players, he's not going to feel any pressure that he has to go out there and score every time for the team to have a chance to win the game," Bossi said. "He'll be play- ing with so many other good play- ers, playing a high-level national schedule, and that will really help prepare him for Michigan and the Big Ten." Bossi said Poole played well at a September combine at La Lumiere and fits in comfortably with his tal- ented teammates, including five-star forward Jaren Jackson, a future Mich- igan State player. Poole and Jackson are roommates at La Lumiere and signed their letters together at the school Nov. 9. Though they're not the Fab Five, they should all be able to help down the road. "It's a really solid class," Bossi said. WOLVERINES STILL LOOKING AT OTHER 2017 OPTIONS Michigan head coach John Beilein confirmed Nov. 11 that senior for- ward Mark Donnal's scholarship might be used for another 2017 pros- pect, and he and his staff hosted a big one this fall. Norristown (Pa.) Westtown five-star power forward Mohamed Bamba (6-11, Rivals.com's No. 4 senior nationally), was on cam- pus for what proved to be an out- standing Sept. 2 weekend visit. As is often the case with elite re- cruits, Bamba is in high demand and involved with the nation's blueblood programs, and he'll wait until the April period to sign. He was on Ken- tucky's campus for an unofficial visit for Big Blue Madness Oct. 14, saw Texas the weekend of Oct. 28 and is still considering Duke and others. ESPN's Adam Finkelstein said Texas might have the early lead dur- ing a Signing Day Special Nov. 10. "If you had to identify a favorite right now, it's probably Texas," Fin- kelstein said. "He was on their cam- pus for an official visit a couple of weeks ago, and all reports were it went extremely well. Right now, I think Texas has to be the program that's in the lead." Texas headman Shaka Smart coached Bamba on the USA National Team, which won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas U18 champion- ships in Chile over the summer, so there's a relationship. Most appear to be guessing, however, when it comes to handicapping where he'll end up. "He's also been to Michigan. UConn is also involved," Finkelstein said. "But if you're one of those three schools, you don't like the idea of having to continue this process on for another four months because you know the Dukes and the Kentuckys of the world, they're not going to stop chasing him." Michigan is also reportedly look- ing at Jordan Tucker again, a 6-7, 200-pound wing out of Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler. Tucker's grandfather went to Michigan, but the Wolverines hadn't been mentioned for some time, Tucker, the nation's No. 42 player, is focusing on Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Syracuse, Villanova and others. ❏ Jordan Poole, a 6-4 shooting guard from Milwaukee, averaged 18.2 points per game as a junior and is ranked as the No. 95 player in the country by Rivals.com. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM

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