The Wolverine

BASKETBALL RECRUITING Class Of 2014 Recruiting Picking Up M BY CHRIS BALAS a fifth is imminent. Franklin (Ohio) Middletown forward Vincent Ed- wards (6-7, Rivals.com's No. 66 player nationally in the 2014 class) is planning an October visit, either for the Oct. 13 football weekend against Illinois or Oct. 20 versus Michigan State, at which point he'll likely receive an official offer. U-M head coach John Beilein visited his school Sept. 21. Edwards visited Purdue in August, his latest of a number of trips to West Lafayette. He acknowledged that the Boilermakers coaches had paid him the most attention in July, and many believe Purdue is the heavy favorite. He was rumored to be near a com- mitment to the school in the spring and said again in August that the Boilers were way out in front. "Right now I just get want to get a feel for schools and find out what the best fit for me is," Edwards said. "I'm not planning on making a decision too early." Edwards holds offers from Dayton, ichigan still has offers to only four class of 2014 recruits, but West Virginia and Xavier in addi- tion to Purdue, and plans on visiting WVU and U-M this fall. He averaged 14.5 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.5 as- sists last year. Other 2014 offerees, meanwhile, continue to watch their recruit- ments grow. At one time, it seemed as though Normal (Ill.) University's Keita Bates-Diop (pronounced "Jop") might make an early autumn deci- sion, with Michigan and Purdue the frontrunners, and Illinois a dark horse. He's visited Ohio State, how- ever, and has also received an In- diana offer, while more and more schools are now starting to pursue Rivals.com's No. 23 junior nationally. The 6-7, 190-pounder impressed around player on Saturday was Keita Bates-Diop," Rivals.com reported. "The four-star forward from Illinois — who has heard the most this fall from Louisville, Ohio State, Stan- ford, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Florida — used his length, athleticism and high IQ to be a playmaker. "The most consistent and best all- "Bates-Diop showed nice touch on his jumper, but also excelled at at- tacking the basket and using either his size or quickness, depending on the matchup, to outdo his opponent." Notes on Michigan's other 2014 of- ferees: • Moss Point (Miss.) shooting guard Devin Booker (6-4, 180, No. 27 player nationally) now holds of- fers from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and others in addition to Michigan. U-M still seems to be in good posi- tion, but Booker has visited Michigan State and his list seems to be expand- ing. He visited Mississippi State in September and is also in line to visit Missouri Oct. 13. between U-M and Ohio State. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Pickerington (Ohio) Central small forward Jae'sean Tate, a four-star prospect and the class of 2014's No. 72 overall player accord- ing to Rivals.com, may end up choosing Booker does plan on visiting Mich- igan again this fall, likely with his father, Melvin, a former Missouri standout. Beilein was among the first to visit his school to watch him work out on the first day of the contact period. • Pickerington (Ohio) Central's Jae'sean Tate (6-5, 200, No. 72 player in the junior class) visited Ohio State Sept. 1 and Michigan Sept. 8. He holds offers from Iowa, U-M, Ohio State and Purdue, among others. All-Ohio AAU coach Benji Burke, father of U-M sophomore Trey Burke, said he thinks Michigan has a shot with Tate. "Trey and [U-M freshman] Caris recently at the Under Armour Grind session in Houston, where more than 20 four- and five-star prospects were featured among the 80 players who participated at the one-day skills academy. 74 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2012 LeVert stay on him, and he seems to have a better chance at playing early at Michigan than Ohio State," Burke said. "But growing up here in Columbus, it's hard. It would be like a kid growing up near Ann Arbor leaving home." The Buckeyes might be the favor- ite, but Tate's second visit to Ann Arbor in a month seems to indicate he's at least somewhat serious. • Indianapolis Park Tudor's Trevon Bluiett visited Illinois in September and holds offers from U-M, Florida, Indiana and several others. Indiana could be tough to beat for the 6-5, 185-pounder (No. 49 prospect in the Class of 2014), but U-M made a good impression during an unofficial and he's expected to visit again this fall. The Wolverines sent their whole staff down to watch him play recently, In- diana Rivals.com reported, proving U-M is serious about the standout. Bluiett's 15 offers include Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Iowa, Louisville, Michigan, Xavier, Kansas State, But- ler and others. He has made unoffi- cial visits to Illinois, Kentucky, Lou- isville, Michigan and Xavier. "I keep in contact with Coach [Tom] Crean about once a week," noted Tate. "Michigan, Xavier, Kan- sas State and Illinois are the ones that text the most." He still plans to take his time be- fore pledging. "The way things are going, it may speed up because juniors can take official visits now," he said, refer-

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