The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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56 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2016 BASKETBALL RECRUITING Three others the Wolverines are still watching from the senior class: BRIAN BOWEN, SF 6-7 • 195 LaPorte, Ind. La Lumiere School Rivals.com's No. 22 senior nationally "Tugs" as he's called is related to former Michigan State standout Ja- son Richardson and originally hails from the Saginaw area. He picked up his U-M offer in June. Bowen aver- aged 18.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.2 per- cent from the field and 20.8 percent on three-pointers, for MeanStreets AAU in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL). Bowen is still thought to be wait- ing on a Kentucky offer, but he al- ready holds tenders from Louisville, Indiana, Texas, Villanova and several others. He said North Carolina State, Oklahoma State, Villanova, Michigan, Michigan State, Kentucky, UCLA, Texas and Kansas were all recruiting him "pretty hard," but he still hasn't set up official visits for the fall. JAMAL CAIN, SF 6-7 • 175 Detroit Cornerstone H.S. Rivals.com No. 74 senior nationally Cain averaged 13.1 points per game for The Family on the Nike EYBL cir- cuit and shot 37 percent from three- point range in 16 contests. He aver- aged 26.0 points, 15.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game last season at Cornerstone. Michigan offered Cain following an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor April 27 and continues to at least watch him. Marquette and Georgia are the other schools high on his list, but he seems to be in no rush, which means he could be available until spring. ANTHONY GAINES, SG 6-4 • 180 New Hampton, N.H. New Hampton Prep Rivals.com three-star nationally Gaines averaged 15.9 points and 9.0 rebounds for the Albany City Rocks on the AAU circuit and is planning a fall visit. Butler, Dayton and Cincin- nati are also on his list, but he's been quiet throughout his recruitment. U-M is expected to continue recruit- ing him, but with Bamba and others deciding this spring, he might not be an option if he plans on signing in November. U-M IS IN GREAT SHAPE WITH RISING STAR SOPHOMORE Michigan has had plenty of success in Ohio over the last few years, and Beilein and assistant Saddi Wash- ington were back in the Columbus area yet again recently, this time to see sophomore big man Taylor Cur- rie, one of the faster risers in the 2019 class. Rivals.com's Bossi first noticed him in April playing with the talented All- Ohio Red summer team. "A 6-foot-8 power forward from Worthington (Ohio) Christian, Currie is a smooth athlete with long arms who can run the floor and looks like he will be able to play pick and pop basketball," he wrote. Currie is now 6-9, head coach Kevin Weakley reports, and continues to im- prove. "Coach Beilein and Coach Wash- ington were here [Sept. 12]," Weakley said. "Taylor is pretty versatile for a young player — he can play inside and has an expanding game on the perimeter. His strengths include being a good rim protector and a good re- bounder, and he's developing a really nice touch around the basket. "He's beginning to shoot the three pretty well. I think his greatest qual- ity is something that isn't taught but is intrinsic for some people. He plays with a really, really high motor and is an ultimate competitor with a very, very high competitive spirit about him." Currie averaged a double-double as a freshman on varsity with 12.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He'll continue to get better as he adds strength, Weakley said, but he started blossoming at the end of summer. Many schools noticed him and started reaching out when he was in Las Vegas with All-Ohio Red in late summer. "He had a really, really good July on the AAU circuit," Weakley said. "Most schools in the Big Ten like Iowa, Purdue, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State — along with Xavier, Butler, Virginia and Pitt — have all called and are watching him. It's a long list of schools that saw him in July." Michigan, though, appears to have a big, early edge. "Michigan has the ties. His parents are from the state, and Taylor has been going to Michigan camps since he was younger," he said. "I remember go- ing up to see Coach Beilein and his staff in practice one and a half years ago. They knew who he was, and we watched practice. "Each time they see him, he's better. He's made really large improvements each time." If it continues, expect Michigan to offer next June when they first offer rising juniors. It wouldn't shock to see him accept on the spot. NOTES • All of the class of 2018 offerees were planning to be on campus in Septem- ber or October. Brandon Johns (6-7, 180, Rivals.com's No. 36 junior nationally) of East Lansing (Mich.) High visited the weekend of Sept. 16-18. He had been in this summer for U-M's team camp. Robby Carmody (6-4, 175) of Mars (Pa.) High was slated to visit Sept. 24 and Cormac Ryan (6-5, 190, No. 62 player nationally) of Milton (Mass.) Academy on Oct. 15. Pickerington (Ohio) North's Jerome Hunter (6-7, 185, No. 108 prospect in the class of 2018) visited and received an of- fer in August. ❏ On The Web For regular reports on Michigan basketball recruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets visit TheWolverine.com. Class of 2018 target Robby Carmody, a 6-4 and 175-pound shooting guard from Mars (Pa.) High that is ranked No. 90 overall nationally, was slated to visit Michigan Sept. 24. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM