The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/729750
54 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2016 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan head coach John Beilein and his staff have filled the 2017 recruiting class, but they're still watching a handful of senior pros- pects and — given that there's al- most always attrition — would likely over-sign by one. A quick look at the scholarship chart indicates where the Wolverines stand heading into the 2016-17 season: 2016-17 1: Derrick Walton Jr., 6-1, Sr., PG 2: Zak Irvin, 6-6, Sr., SF 3: Mark Donnal, 6-9, Sr., PF 4: Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, 6-4, Jr., SG 5: Duncan Robinson, 6-8, Jr.*, SG 6: D.J. Wilson, 6-9, So.*, PF 7: Moritz Wagner, 6-9, So., PF 8: Charles Matthews, 6-6, Fr.*, SF 9: Jon Teske, 6-11, Fr., C 10: Austin Davis, 6-10, Fr., C 11: Ibi Watson, 6-5, Fr., SG 12: Xavier Simpson, 5-11, Fr., PG 13: Open 2017-18 1: Mark Donnal, 6-9, 5th-Sr.*, PF (Possible) 2: Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, 6-4, Sr., SG 3: Duncan Robinson, 6-8, 5th-Sr.*, SG 4: D.J. Wilson, 6-9, Jr.*, PF 5: Moritz Wagner, 6-9, Jr., PF 6: Charles Matthews, 6-6, So.*, SF 7: Jon Teske, 6-11, So., C 8: Austin Davis, 6-10, So., C 9: Ibi Watson, 6-5, So., SG 10: Xavier Simpson, 5-11, So., PG 11: Jordan Poole, 6-3, Fr., SG 12: Eli Brooks, 6-1, Fr., PG 13: Isaiah Livers, 6-8, Fr., PF 2018-19 1: D.J. Wilson, 6-9, 5th-Sr.*, PF 2: Moritz Wagner, 6-9, Sr., PF 3: Charles Matthews, 6-6, Jr.*, SF 4: Jon Teske, 6-11, Jr., C 5: Austin Davis, 6-10, Jr., C 6: Ibi Watson, 6-5, Jr., SG 7: Xavier Simpson, 5-11, Jr., PG 8: Jordan Poole, 6-3, So., SG 9: Eli Brooks, 6-1, So., PG 10: Isaiah Livers, 6-8, So., PF 11: Open 12: Open 13: Open * Redshirt All three of the Wolverines' 2017 pledges — Jordan Poole of LaPorte (Ind.) La Lumiere, Rivals.com's No. 95 senior nationally; Eli Brooks of Spring Grove (Pa.) High; and Isaiah Livers of Kalamazoo (Mich.) Central, No. 120 in the country — visited during the weekend of Sept. 2-4 and are planning to sign in the fall. If the Wolverines do sign another player this for the class of 2017, it will likely be in the spring. Among those they're still on are five-star Mohamed Bamba (6-11, 205, No. 4 player in the land). Michigan hosted the West- town (Pa.) School standout during the weekend of Sept. 2-4 for an unof- ficial visit, after which he said Beilein impressed him and called his visit, "Magical." "There's no timetable to cut any list," he told USA Today in his recent blog. "One of my favorite parts about this process is getting to know the coaches. I love talking to Coach Shaka [Smart] at Texas. I think it's because he's a little younger and he always finds a way to connect with me. "I love talking to Coach [John] Cal [Calipari at Kentucky], too; he always finds a way to teach me something in our conversations. I know he's dedi- cated to me getting better. "A coach I've started talking to more is Coach [Tommy] Amaker. He's really good at displaying what Harvard can do for me, not just as a basketball player, but also as a businessman. "I've got a great relationship with Coach [Kevin] Ollie at Connecticut, too. Same for Coach [Mark] Turgeon at Maryland; he really looked out for me when we were in Chile. And Coach Beilein is just really wise. He's a guy you can just learn a lot from." In June, Bamba told Rivals.com that UConn, Arizona, Duke, Indiana, Ken- tucky, Louisville, North Carolina and Syracuse were the schools remain- ing on his list. He then added U-M and Harvard and appears to be wide open. By all accounts, he had a great time in Ann Arbor, pausing for pictures and taking in the scenery at Michi- BASKETBALL RECRUITING Michigan Is Strong With Many Recruits In Several Classes Mohamed Bamba, a 6‑11, 205‑pound center at the Westtown (Pa.) School and the No. 4 over‑ all player in the senior class according to Rivals.com, visited Michigan during the weekend of Sept. 2‑4. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM