A Late Riser Emerges?
The young man you see above displaying a visceral hatred for rims is 2016 Grundy (VA) Mountain Mission SG/SF Harold Baruti, who at the moment looks like the most likely option to fill one of the two open basketball scholarships. Baruti came to Ann Arbor on an official visit last weekend, and it sounds like a scholarship offer is on the way as long as he clears an academic hurdle or two:
Per his HS coach, 2016 wing Harold Baruti has not yet received a scholarship offer from his OV to Michigan. But workout went "very well."
— Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn) May 5, 2016
Re. Michigan and 2016 wing Harold Baruti: Still no scholarship offer. U-M checking if he'll be cleared academically.
— Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn) May 9, 2016
Baruti, who moved to U.S. from the Democratic Republic of the Congo two years ago, also still needs to pass the TOEFL before U-M will offer.
— Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn) May 9, 2016
At 6'6", ~200 pounds, Baruti could provide much-needed depth on the wing. According to Quinn, Utah and Texas Tech are also showing late interest in Baruti, who holds scholarship offers from SMU, UNC-Wilmington, Utah State, and Tennessee Tech. While he doesn't look like the most polished prospect, he's got plenty of athleticism—he looks like a guy who could eventually fill the GRIII role of cutter/finisher who shoots just well enough on corner threes to keep defenses spaced out.
Speaking of wing depth, the just-released senior highlights of 2016 signee Ibi Watson are worth watching. While the highlight video caveat applies, he looks like a strong finisher and impressive passer; if he can hold his own on defense he can see a significant role right away as a backup at the two and the three.
In other hoops recruiting news, Michigan's offer has vaulted them into the top three for in-state 2017 SF Jamal Cain, per TMI's Josh Newkirk:
“(Michigan) is for sure top-three,” Cain said. “My top three, well, the schools that have been in contact the most have been Michigan, Marquette and Xavier.”
Cain mentioned academic support as something that stood out on his visit, and later said that factor is of significant importance in his decision, which should come during or after his senior season.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the roundup.]
Columbus Opening Regional: M Targets Stand Out
Columbus hosted the latest regional for The Opening last weekend, and a lengthy list of Michigan targets were in attendance, as well as 2018 commit Leonard Taylor, who 247's Steve Wiltfong said looked good at tight end:
Springfield (Ohio) High Top247 tight end/defensive tackle and Michigan commit Leonard Taylor played offense at this camp. He’s not super fast but he's so big, has such soft hands and adds great body control for a guy his size.
One of the bigger surprises from the camp was the play of three-star Cass Tech OG Jordan Reid, who won position MVP honors and an invite to The Opening finals in a field loaded on the offensive line. Michigan is second among Reid's top five, behind only Florida, and a visit last week to Ann Arbor got an important person in M's corner, per Newkirk:
And Reid’s father, well, he “loved” what U-M had to offer during their stay, says Reid.
“My dad loved it, says it’s the best visit he’s been on so far,” Reid said of his father, adding: “I’m happy for him, I’m glad he got a feel for it. Obviously it opens his interest and my interest a little bit more.”
Reid said he's looking to get his mother on campus on a later visit. While Michigan trails for now, and Michigan State will also be a big factor, their position close to home could help them close on Reid.
Cass Tech cornerback Donovan Johnson also had a breakout camp performance, clocking a 4.43 40-yard dash before winning the camp's fastest man race. Johnson has Virginia Tech, Penn State, and West Virginia out in front, but he told Steve Wiltfong a certain offer would change the outlook of his recruitment:
So what offer would be a game-changer as we expect them to roll in?
“Michigan,” Johnson answered.
In the few chances I've had to see him play, Johnson's looked like a viable Michigan prospect; when he and LaVert Hill formed Cass Tech's corner duo, I thought Johnson was the more consistent player, and while he isn't as twitchy as Hill, he's got plenty of athletic ability.
Four-star OH TE Matt Dotson earned an invite to The Opening, and Michigan is one of three schools in best position to land him, per Wiltfong:
Closing in on a college decision, Michigan and Michigan State top the list with a decision expected prior to senior season.
“Those are the two schools when I went there I really enjoyed it and liked everything about it,” Dotson said.
Penn State is the third program in the mix and Dotson will visit there for the first time on May 21.
Dotson wants to "take a couple more visits" to those three schools before making a decision.
Commits Get Rankings Bump
247 updated their 2017 rankings last week, giving boosts to three Michigan commits. RB AJ Dillon is now 209th overall, CB Benjamin St-Juste went from a low to a high three-star, and LB Ben Mason got a slight bump in his rating.
Another recent riser, RB O'Maury Samuels, was the subject of an MLive feature, and he said he's not afraid of competition in the backfield:
"Me, it's just instincts, I'm an instinctive guy," Samuels said. "Whatever I see or feel is best for right now and what's about to happen, I'm going to do it. I just really think anywhere they put me, I can contribute. If they just want me to receive out of the backfield, I can do it. If they want me to run downhill, I can do it; I love running the ball. Everything about football I love."
This running back class features a couple really impressive athletes in Dillon and Samuels, who've both tested very well this camp season.
Etc.
Top-100 AL WR Nico Collins, who was supposed to visit for the Spring Game but had to cancel, made his way to campus last weekend. So far, this is what we've got as far as a reaction:
Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville 2017 four-star wide receiver Nico Collins told me he "loved" his visit to #Michiganpic.twitter.com/jrQbVTkBt5
— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) May 9, 2016
Sounds good. While it'll be tough to pry Collins away from Alabama, him paying his way to check out Ann Arbor is a promising sign.
Jay Harbaugh visited the nation's top-ranked prospect, CA RB Najee Harris, on Friday, per Steve Lorenz. Harris is a soft Alabama commit who's still being pursued by many of the top programs in the country, including Ohio State; Lorenz said he's hearing Michigan is one of the schools with a legitimate (if outside) shot at landing him.
Five-star CA WR Darnay Holmes told TMI's Brice Marich he'll "definitely" take an official to Michigan, and the Wolverines have a strong connection on campus already:
“[David Long is] pretty much my brother,” said Holmes. “We grew up together and he just says how crazy it would be if we both end up playing with each other! David on one side and myself on the other is dangerous. That's why I am considering (Michigan) and taking an official.”
M could have a decent shot here; Holmes doesn't have a top list in his recruitment so far and his Crystal Ball is split between Stanford, Nebraska, Arizona, and UCLA.