The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/495628
BASKETBALL RECRUITING gram, while Kansas, Cal and Ken‑ tucky are also high on his list. He does have family in Michigan — his mother is from Muskegon on the state's west side — and he did enjoy his visit. Another to watch — Chesterfield (Va.) L.C. Bird shooting guard Kenny Williams (6‑3, 165 pounds, Rivals.com's No. 97 senior nationally). Williams asked out of his letter of intent to VCU following head coach Shaka Smart's defection to Texas, and VCU's athletic director was expected to release him after April 15. "I don't want to answer any ques‑ tions until everything's official," Wil‑ liams said when asked if Michigan was courting him. Word has it, though, that he was heavily pursuing U‑M. L.C. Bird head coach Troy Manns confirmed there would be serious interest on Williams' part. "Until he's released, we can't really discuss [transferring] with them yet," Manns said. "Some schools still try and have reached out. "He's an elite shooter. That's what he does. But he can put the ball on the floor a bit, too, and he's 6‑4 now." Smart could choose to recruit him to Texas, but Manns said that might be too far from home. Williams ini‑ tially chose VCU over North Caro‑ lina, Georgetown and Indiana, and all of them should be involved again. U‑M, though, has quite a few guards on the roster like him and might not jump in headfirst. Another long shot possibility — Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep point guard Derryck Thornton Jr. (6‑2, Ri‑ vals.com's No. 7 junior nationally). His father, Derryck Sr., confirmed his son is definitely considering reclassi‑ fying to 2015. Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewksi has told the Thorntons they believe outstanding point guard Tyus Jones is leaving and would like Thornton to step right in. "It comes down to this — does he want to play McDonald's?" his father said of the All‑American prep game. "Coach K is coming out this week. He's saying, 'Look at who you are right now, fast forward one or two months and think how much further along you'll be.'" That was in response to Thorn‑ ton Jr.'s concerns about being ready to take the reins immediately, even though he's so skilled that he's very likely a one‑and‑done college player. Louisville head coach Rick Pitino took a different approach, suggesting a possible redshirt for Thornton to get comfortable before becoming an elite level point guard starting in 2016. "He plays only three or four games in high school that you'd consider national caliber games," Thornton Sr. said. "He could benefit from learning for a year." U‑M coaches told Thornton Sr. there's a possibility Michigan senior‑ to‑be Spike Albrecht will redshirt due to recent hip surgery, opening up potential playing time. Finally, Michigan also flirted with Westland (Mich.) John Glenn se‑ nior center Mike Edwards (6‑10, 220 pounds, Rivals.com three‑star pros‑ pect), one of the faster risers in his