The latest edition of INSIDE THE FORT, starting with some interesting football recruiting tidbits …
Michigan coaches are continuing to make progress on what should be an incredible class when it’s all said and done, one folks close to it believe will include up to 10 to 12 early enrollees.
One of those is a big fish … one of the biggest in the class, in fact. Antioch (Calif.) Senior High running back Najee Harris, Rivals.com’s No. 1 prospect overall nationally, is still committed to Alabama, but there’s a very strong vibe that once he’s fully qualified and has everything in order to enroll early, he’s going to announce his pledge and sign papers to enroll early at U-M.
Keep in mind, this is the Michigan vibe, and it’s a strong one from very good sources. That doesn’t mean it’s a done deal (it’s recruiting), but heading down the stretch … well, we really like the Wolverines’ chances today based on very recent (and good) information.
Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd, meanwhile, recently announced that he was leaving the Volunteers’ football program. Hurd hasn’t given a public comment as to why he’s leaving the program but head coach Butch Jones addressed the situation and confirmed that Hurd would be leaving.
In his first two seasons in Knoxville, he played in 26 games (starting 22) and rushed for 2,187 yards and 17 touchdowns and caught 57 passes for 411 yards and four touchdowns. He has reportedly told some friends and teammates that he’d like to play wide receiver or tight end at whichever school he transfers to.
TheWolverine.com has learned that Michigan could potentially be interested in Hurd at one of those positions. At 6-4, 240 pounds, he has a fantastic blend of size, speed, and athleticism that could prove very valuable at U-M after losing All-American tight end Jake Butt and a lot of wide receiver depth over the next two seasons.
Even though Hurd would be looked at as a tight end or wide receiver should Michigan pursue him, nothing would likely happen until the hay is in the barn with the 2017 class. The Michigan staff is pursuing the nation’s top two running backs in Harris and Cam Akers and does not want to give either of them a reason to think that the depth chart will be working against them.
The decision to leave Tennessee brings with it some limitations. Hurd can transfer to another school, but will be blocked from joining a school in the SEC. He will have to sit out a year due to NCAA rules, which means he won’t be eligible to play next season. He may also declare for the NFL draft, which will be held in Philadelphia, April 27-29. A final decision has not been made at this time.
Wide receiver is probably the most interesting position group to focus on in Michigan’s 2017 recruiting cycle. With no commitments at the position right now, but a couple of five stars and other blue-chip prospects potentially leaning toward Michigan, it could be a very productive finish.
Target No. 1 is Detroit Cass Tech five-star Donovan Peoples-Jones. The in-state product is one of the best overall athletes in the country, and that translates very well to the wide receiver position. He’s been to Michigan just once this season, but while in Ann Arbor he told someone close to the program that he may just end up at U-M.
The feeling is that he is taking all of his official visits to see how other programs stack up against Michigan.
Another person very close to Peoples-Jones’ recruitment believes it will come down to Michigan and Florida, and that U-M simply checks the academic box better than UF.
The No. 2 wide receiver and No. 13 overall player in the country is listed at 6-1, 188 pounds by Rivals.com, but has developed a lot physically since his last official measurement and is likely closer to 6-3, 200 pounds now. Regardless of what his official measurable are, the kid is a lock to contribute as a true freshman regardless of where he signs. He’s an early graduate and will make his decision in mid-December and will enroll at his school of choice in early-January.
Target No. 2 is Pinson (Ala.) Clay five-star Nico Collins. The 6-5, 193-pounder will be in Ann Arbor this weekend for his official visit and will be able to spend a ton of time with good friend and Michigan commit J’Marick Woods. The U-M staff purposely set up coinciding official visits for the two Alabama natives and should make for a very enjoyable experience for Collins.
The No. 4 wide receiver and No. 23 overall player in the nation has been to Michigan many times on his own dime but getting to spend an entire weekend in Ann Arbor at the expense of the program should give him a better chance than ever before to experience what it’s like to be a student athlete at U-M.
Recruiting staffer Bam Richards, cornerback Keith Washington, and running back Kingston Davis will all also be heavily involved as Alabama influences who are currently a part of the Wolverines’ program. Everyone close to Collins’ recruitment believes that Michigan is in a very, very good position with the talented receiver and the weekend visit could improve it even more.
Target No. 3 is Cheshire (Conn.) Cheshire Academy four-star Tarik Black. The 6-3, 201-pounder took his official visit to Michigan for the season opener against Hawai’i and was blown away. His mother, father, and head coach accompanied him on the trip and could not have been more impressed.
The No. 14 wide receiver and No. 99 overall player in the country followed up his Michigan official with an OV to Auburn but since then has been focusing on his high school team which plays mostly on Saturdays. It’s believed that Michigan may be leading the way for him as well but teams like Notre Dame, Alabama, and even Stanford are still in the mix for him. Black is also an early enrollee so he’ll be monitored closely as his December graduation date approaches.
Target No. 4 is an interesting one because he’s already committed to Michigan. Camden (N.J.) four-star Brad Hawkins committed to Michigan as a member of the 2016 class, but some academic hang-ups forced him to attend a prep school for a season before he’ll be welcomed at U-M.
The 6-2, 195-pounder enrolled at Suffield Academy in Connecticut with a plan to stay for one year, get everything in line academically, and then enroll at U-M for the fall of 2017. He will arrive at Michigan with freshman eligibility and would be a more than solid fourth wide receiver should things go accordingly with Peoples-Jones, Collins, and Black. His route is similar to what people call a "grey shirt". He basically got an extra year of high school to get his academic stuff straightened out and then he'll come in as a full-blown member of the 2017 class.
Coming out of high school, Hawkins was considered the No. 53 wide receiver and the No. 235 overall prospect in the country. He’s former high school teammates with Michigan freshman defensive end Ron Johnson as well as one of Michigan’s top offensive line targets in the 2017 class, Cesar Ruiz who is now at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Peoples-Jones, Collins, Black, and Hawkins is the desired haul for the U-M staff, but if something doesn’t work out with one of those talented pass catchers, Iowa City (Iowa) West three-star Olive Martin will be aggressively pursued. The 6-1, 190-pounder and top prospect in Iowa grew extremely close to Michigan quarterback commit Dylan McCaffrey while the two were in Oregon for Nike’s The Opening and that bond has the staff feeling good about landing Martin should they turn up the heat.
The plan is to lock things up with early graduates Peoples-Jones and Black, aggressively recruit Collins throughout the entire month of January, monitor the progress of Hawkins throughout January to make sure things are in line for him to enroll during the summer and if they aren’t, put the full-court press on Martin. Even though Michigan doesn’t have a wide receiver in the fold right now, it could end up being an epic haul at the position when it’s all said and done.
****
To football now ...
Wilton Speight is doing just about everything right, right? Well, the redshirt sophomore is experiencing a laudable first starting season, but it’s not all hand pats and warm towels for the Michigan quarterback. He’s still getting coached very hard behind the scenes. Michigan coaches are impressing upon him how technique can make all the difference between a good and a great play.
One example, from last week’s win over MSU, involves the deep throw to fifth-year senior wideout Amara Darboh, in which Darboh caught the football, but fell down short of the goal line. The average fan groaned and shook his head over Darboh not keeping his feet, when Michigan settled for a field goal.
A close look at Speight on the play, though, reveals him short-arming the football (something Speight has worked hard at improving) and crossing his feet. The technique resulted in an underthrow, which if averted could have allowed Darboh to catch the ball in stride and score the touchdown.
Speight has done an excellent job in a number of areas, but he can still make big gains – and he’s being pushed to do so.
Up front, figure the newly established left side of Michigan’s offensive line – fifth-year senior Ben Braden at tackle, freshman Ben Bredeson at guard -- to remain in place for the foreseeable future. Bredeson showed plenty against the Spartans, holding up against an aggressive defense. He’s still in the growing stages, but handled himself well enough to now settle into that spot as a starter.
Michigan’s wide receivers present an interesting mix at this point in the season. Darboh continues experiencing an exceptional season, while classmate Jehu Chesson is struggling with route running and does not look like the player he was prior to an injury in last year’s bowl game.
Redshirt sophomore wideout Drake Harris obviously saw some action at MSU, and that should continue. He gained enough trust to get on the field in Michigan’s biggest road game to date. Meanwhile, sophomore Grant Perry continues “working on something,” although he’s healthy and practicing. Head coach Jim Harbaugh’s team features enough depth to underscore most any message he wishes to send, and that message could last one more game.
Defensively, redshirt sophomore linebacker Noah Furbush performed well against Michigan State, coming in to provide a bigger body at times when the Spartans wanted to run the ball right at redshirt sophomore ‘backer Jabrill Peppers. He impressed the coaches and could see more action against run-heavy teams. That would allow them to use Peppers in different ways, as well – defensive coordinator Don Brown aka “Dr. Blitz” will continue to tinker in his lab.
Meanwhile, big rookie lineman Michael Onwenu will get a long look over on the defensive line this week. He and redshirt sophomore Bryan Mone could add depth there, with the season entering its third month and nagging injuries/fatigue a concern. We’d expect to see Onwenu on that side of the ball at times Saturday.
That could also result in freshman defensive end Rashan Gary getting a longer run against Maryland. Word has it as well that senior defensive end Taco Charlton and redshirt junior defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, Jr., are playing their best ball and will be expected to remain stalwarts for the Wolverines.
Tackling is an emphasis, after some ugly examples of poor form (and results) turned into big plays for the Spartans. On the flip side stands redshirt junior linebacker Mike McCray, who has been drawing high praise for always being in the right place at the right time.
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Finishing with basketball and recruiting now with an emphasis on this year’s team …
As we reported in our “secret scrimmage” notes earlier this week, there were positives and negatives in the scrimmage with Akron. We received texts that “Michigan lost, this team is too finesse,” etc. … but as we reported, it was a situational scrimmage in which U-M played a number of different combinations and not necessarily to its strengths in all situations – as was the plan.
Those close to it say this team continues to improve. Freshman point guard Xavier Simpson has made shots in practice (though not in the public scrimmages) and will help, especially when he gets a better grasp of the offense. Frosh shooting guard Ibi Watson “makes a lot of shots” and will play this year, as well.
We’d reported that frosh Austin Davis might play while Jon Teske redshirted, but Teske’s length has really helped him, especially on the defensive end. For a team looking for seven more defensive stops per game this year, Teske is the guy could provide one or two by being an eraser near the rim, and he’s shown it.
Sophomore Moe Wagner is the guy expected to really help elevate this team from last year’s borderline NCAA Tournament appearance. He has proven to be a mismatch offensively in both practice and scrimmages and is shooting the ball well. His passion and energy has been a spark.
Redshirt sophomore D.J. Wilson has been challenged to be more aggressive, and he has. We’ll see how that translates in games, starting tonight. It needs to if he wants to play, and he knows this is a big year.
This team is still adapting to its defensive teachings and has a lot of work to do, but they’ve made strides.
On the recruiting front, the major fall visits have taken place and U-M feels good about its chances with four-star guards Cormac Ryan and Robby Carmody, especially. The 2018 pair have Michigan at or near the top of their lists, and now it’s a matter of closing (though neither one is in a hurry to make a decision).
Westtown (Pa.) School 2017 five-star center (No. 4 nationally) Mohamed Bamba, meanwhile, recently visited Texas, and he’ll take his last three visits at some point this winter. He’s ready to take in some games on TV, get a feel for the rosters and see how he would fit. He’ll have a better idea of that after this November’s signing period.
His brother, Ibrahim Johnson, said recently that Bamba’s recruitment has essentially just begun.
“It’s a bit odd because there are a bunch of schools that offered, but my family isn’t comfortable with any specific school yet. When my family is consulted, and really tied into the schools, that’s when the recruitment process, as far as cutting down, will really begin for Mohamed,” he said.
U-M and Texas have gotten the only two visits this fall. From the Rivals Texas writers …
“Michigan and Texas have something in common – terrific academics.
“Academics will be a paramount part of Bamba’s decision-making process. Not only will he look for a place that he can excel on the floor, but he’ll look for somewhere that offers an elite academic opportunity that can open doors in the future. There’s a reason why Harvard is legitimately in the hunt for Bamba as well, who is reportedly considering seven schools – Michigan, Harvard, Texas, Duke, Kentucky, Connecticut and Syracuse. And from what we’ve heard, the relationship with the head coach will also be a principal part of the evaluation process.”
Bamba has been in consistent contact with head coach John Beilein and looks at him as a mentor. He really likes Smart, too.
He’s taking his time, learning as much as he can about the coaches and players and broader career platform is not "just talk" as it is with many who give canned answers about academics. Those closest to him say he truly gets the importance of that and understands that Michigan is much more than just a jock school basketball factory.
We’ll continue to watch this one closely.
Michigan coaches are continuing to make progress on what should be an incredible class when it’s all said and done, one folks close to it believe will include up to 10 to 12 early enrollees.
One of those is a big fish … one of the biggest in the class, in fact. Antioch (Calif.) Senior High running back Najee Harris, Rivals.com’s No. 1 prospect overall nationally, is still committed to Alabama, but there’s a very strong vibe that once he’s fully qualified and has everything in order to enroll early, he’s going to announce his pledge and sign papers to enroll early at U-M.
Keep in mind, this is the Michigan vibe, and it’s a strong one from very good sources. That doesn’t mean it’s a done deal (it’s recruiting), but heading down the stretch … well, we really like the Wolverines’ chances today based on very recent (and good) information.
Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd, meanwhile, recently announced that he was leaving the Volunteers’ football program. Hurd hasn’t given a public comment as to why he’s leaving the program but head coach Butch Jones addressed the situation and confirmed that Hurd would be leaving.
In his first two seasons in Knoxville, he played in 26 games (starting 22) and rushed for 2,187 yards and 17 touchdowns and caught 57 passes for 411 yards and four touchdowns. He has reportedly told some friends and teammates that he’d like to play wide receiver or tight end at whichever school he transfers to.
TheWolverine.com has learned that Michigan could potentially be interested in Hurd at one of those positions. At 6-4, 240 pounds, he has a fantastic blend of size, speed, and athleticism that could prove very valuable at U-M after losing All-American tight end Jake Butt and a lot of wide receiver depth over the next two seasons.
Even though Hurd would be looked at as a tight end or wide receiver should Michigan pursue him, nothing would likely happen until the hay is in the barn with the 2017 class. The Michigan staff is pursuing the nation’s top two running backs in Harris and Cam Akers and does not want to give either of them a reason to think that the depth chart will be working against them.
The decision to leave Tennessee brings with it some limitations. Hurd can transfer to another school, but will be blocked from joining a school in the SEC. He will have to sit out a year due to NCAA rules, which means he won’t be eligible to play next season. He may also declare for the NFL draft, which will be held in Philadelphia, April 27-29. A final decision has not been made at this time.
Wide receiver is probably the most interesting position group to focus on in Michigan’s 2017 recruiting cycle. With no commitments at the position right now, but a couple of five stars and other blue-chip prospects potentially leaning toward Michigan, it could be a very productive finish.
Target No. 1 is Detroit Cass Tech five-star Donovan Peoples-Jones. The in-state product is one of the best overall athletes in the country, and that translates very well to the wide receiver position. He’s been to Michigan just once this season, but while in Ann Arbor he told someone close to the program that he may just end up at U-M.
The feeling is that he is taking all of his official visits to see how other programs stack up against Michigan.
Another person very close to Peoples-Jones’ recruitment believes it will come down to Michigan and Florida, and that U-M simply checks the academic box better than UF.
The No. 2 wide receiver and No. 13 overall player in the country is listed at 6-1, 188 pounds by Rivals.com, but has developed a lot physically since his last official measurement and is likely closer to 6-3, 200 pounds now. Regardless of what his official measurable are, the kid is a lock to contribute as a true freshman regardless of where he signs. He’s an early graduate and will make his decision in mid-December and will enroll at his school of choice in early-January.
Target No. 2 is Pinson (Ala.) Clay five-star Nico Collins. The 6-5, 193-pounder will be in Ann Arbor this weekend for his official visit and will be able to spend a ton of time with good friend and Michigan commit J’Marick Woods. The U-M staff purposely set up coinciding official visits for the two Alabama natives and should make for a very enjoyable experience for Collins.
The No. 4 wide receiver and No. 23 overall player in the nation has been to Michigan many times on his own dime but getting to spend an entire weekend in Ann Arbor at the expense of the program should give him a better chance than ever before to experience what it’s like to be a student athlete at U-M.
Recruiting staffer Bam Richards, cornerback Keith Washington, and running back Kingston Davis will all also be heavily involved as Alabama influences who are currently a part of the Wolverines’ program. Everyone close to Collins’ recruitment believes that Michigan is in a very, very good position with the talented receiver and the weekend visit could improve it even more.
Target No. 3 is Cheshire (Conn.) Cheshire Academy four-star Tarik Black. The 6-3, 201-pounder took his official visit to Michigan for the season opener against Hawai’i and was blown away. His mother, father, and head coach accompanied him on the trip and could not have been more impressed.
The No. 14 wide receiver and No. 99 overall player in the country followed up his Michigan official with an OV to Auburn but since then has been focusing on his high school team which plays mostly on Saturdays. It’s believed that Michigan may be leading the way for him as well but teams like Notre Dame, Alabama, and even Stanford are still in the mix for him. Black is also an early enrollee so he’ll be monitored closely as his December graduation date approaches.
Target No. 4 is an interesting one because he’s already committed to Michigan. Camden (N.J.) four-star Brad Hawkins committed to Michigan as a member of the 2016 class, but some academic hang-ups forced him to attend a prep school for a season before he’ll be welcomed at U-M.
The 6-2, 195-pounder enrolled at Suffield Academy in Connecticut with a plan to stay for one year, get everything in line academically, and then enroll at U-M for the fall of 2017. He will arrive at Michigan with freshman eligibility and would be a more than solid fourth wide receiver should things go accordingly with Peoples-Jones, Collins, and Black. His route is similar to what people call a "grey shirt". He basically got an extra year of high school to get his academic stuff straightened out and then he'll come in as a full-blown member of the 2017 class.
Coming out of high school, Hawkins was considered the No. 53 wide receiver and the No. 235 overall prospect in the country. He’s former high school teammates with Michigan freshman defensive end Ron Johnson as well as one of Michigan’s top offensive line targets in the 2017 class, Cesar Ruiz who is now at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Peoples-Jones, Collins, Black, and Hawkins is the desired haul for the U-M staff, but if something doesn’t work out with one of those talented pass catchers, Iowa City (Iowa) West three-star Olive Martin will be aggressively pursued. The 6-1, 190-pounder and top prospect in Iowa grew extremely close to Michigan quarterback commit Dylan McCaffrey while the two were in Oregon for Nike’s The Opening and that bond has the staff feeling good about landing Martin should they turn up the heat.
The plan is to lock things up with early graduates Peoples-Jones and Black, aggressively recruit Collins throughout the entire month of January, monitor the progress of Hawkins throughout January to make sure things are in line for him to enroll during the summer and if they aren’t, put the full-court press on Martin. Even though Michigan doesn’t have a wide receiver in the fold right now, it could end up being an epic haul at the position when it’s all said and done.
****
To football now ...
Wilton Speight is doing just about everything right, right? Well, the redshirt sophomore is experiencing a laudable first starting season, but it’s not all hand pats and warm towels for the Michigan quarterback. He’s still getting coached very hard behind the scenes. Michigan coaches are impressing upon him how technique can make all the difference between a good and a great play.
One example, from last week’s win over MSU, involves the deep throw to fifth-year senior wideout Amara Darboh, in which Darboh caught the football, but fell down short of the goal line. The average fan groaned and shook his head over Darboh not keeping his feet, when Michigan settled for a field goal.
A close look at Speight on the play, though, reveals him short-arming the football (something Speight has worked hard at improving) and crossing his feet. The technique resulted in an underthrow, which if averted could have allowed Darboh to catch the ball in stride and score the touchdown.
Speight has done an excellent job in a number of areas, but he can still make big gains – and he’s being pushed to do so.
Up front, figure the newly established left side of Michigan’s offensive line – fifth-year senior Ben Braden at tackle, freshman Ben Bredeson at guard -- to remain in place for the foreseeable future. Bredeson showed plenty against the Spartans, holding up against an aggressive defense. He’s still in the growing stages, but handled himself well enough to now settle into that spot as a starter.
Michigan’s wide receivers present an interesting mix at this point in the season. Darboh continues experiencing an exceptional season, while classmate Jehu Chesson is struggling with route running and does not look like the player he was prior to an injury in last year’s bowl game.
Redshirt sophomore wideout Drake Harris obviously saw some action at MSU, and that should continue. He gained enough trust to get on the field in Michigan’s biggest road game to date. Meanwhile, sophomore Grant Perry continues “working on something,” although he’s healthy and practicing. Head coach Jim Harbaugh’s team features enough depth to underscore most any message he wishes to send, and that message could last one more game.
Defensively, redshirt sophomore linebacker Noah Furbush performed well against Michigan State, coming in to provide a bigger body at times when the Spartans wanted to run the ball right at redshirt sophomore ‘backer Jabrill Peppers. He impressed the coaches and could see more action against run-heavy teams. That would allow them to use Peppers in different ways, as well – defensive coordinator Don Brown aka “Dr. Blitz” will continue to tinker in his lab.
Meanwhile, big rookie lineman Michael Onwenu will get a long look over on the defensive line this week. He and redshirt sophomore Bryan Mone could add depth there, with the season entering its third month and nagging injuries/fatigue a concern. We’d expect to see Onwenu on that side of the ball at times Saturday.
That could also result in freshman defensive end Rashan Gary getting a longer run against Maryland. Word has it as well that senior defensive end Taco Charlton and redshirt junior defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, Jr., are playing their best ball and will be expected to remain stalwarts for the Wolverines.
Tackling is an emphasis, after some ugly examples of poor form (and results) turned into big plays for the Spartans. On the flip side stands redshirt junior linebacker Mike McCray, who has been drawing high praise for always being in the right place at the right time.
****
Finishing with basketball and recruiting now with an emphasis on this year’s team …
As we reported in our “secret scrimmage” notes earlier this week, there were positives and negatives in the scrimmage with Akron. We received texts that “Michigan lost, this team is too finesse,” etc. … but as we reported, it was a situational scrimmage in which U-M played a number of different combinations and not necessarily to its strengths in all situations – as was the plan.
Those close to it say this team continues to improve. Freshman point guard Xavier Simpson has made shots in practice (though not in the public scrimmages) and will help, especially when he gets a better grasp of the offense. Frosh shooting guard Ibi Watson “makes a lot of shots” and will play this year, as well.
We’d reported that frosh Austin Davis might play while Jon Teske redshirted, but Teske’s length has really helped him, especially on the defensive end. For a team looking for seven more defensive stops per game this year, Teske is the guy could provide one or two by being an eraser near the rim, and he’s shown it.
Sophomore Moe Wagner is the guy expected to really help elevate this team from last year’s borderline NCAA Tournament appearance. He has proven to be a mismatch offensively in both practice and scrimmages and is shooting the ball well. His passion and energy has been a spark.
Redshirt sophomore D.J. Wilson has been challenged to be more aggressive, and he has. We’ll see how that translates in games, starting tonight. It needs to if he wants to play, and he knows this is a big year.
This team is still adapting to its defensive teachings and has a lot of work to do, but they’ve made strides.
On the recruiting front, the major fall visits have taken place and U-M feels good about its chances with four-star guards Cormac Ryan and Robby Carmody, especially. The 2018 pair have Michigan at or near the top of their lists, and now it’s a matter of closing (though neither one is in a hurry to make a decision).
Westtown (Pa.) School 2017 five-star center (No. 4 nationally) Mohamed Bamba, meanwhile, recently visited Texas, and he’ll take his last three visits at some point this winter. He’s ready to take in some games on TV, get a feel for the rosters and see how he would fit. He’ll have a better idea of that after this November’s signing period.
His brother, Ibrahim Johnson, said recently that Bamba’s recruitment has essentially just begun.
“It’s a bit odd because there are a bunch of schools that offered, but my family isn’t comfortable with any specific school yet. When my family is consulted, and really tied into the schools, that’s when the recruitment process, as far as cutting down, will really begin for Mohamed,” he said.
U-M and Texas have gotten the only two visits this fall. From the Rivals Texas writers …
“Michigan and Texas have something in common – terrific academics.
“Academics will be a paramount part of Bamba’s decision-making process. Not only will he look for a place that he can excel on the floor, but he’ll look for somewhere that offers an elite academic opportunity that can open doors in the future. There’s a reason why Harvard is legitimately in the hunt for Bamba as well, who is reportedly considering seven schools – Michigan, Harvard, Texas, Duke, Kentucky, Connecticut and Syracuse. And from what we’ve heard, the relationship with the head coach will also be a principal part of the evaluation process.”
Bamba has been in consistent contact with head coach John Beilein and looks at him as a mentor. He really likes Smart, too.
He’s taking his time, learning as much as he can about the coaches and players and broader career platform is not "just talk" as it is with many who give canned answers about academics. Those closest to him say he truly gets the importance of that and understands that Michigan is much more than just a jock school basketball factory.
We’ll continue to watch this one closely.
