Michigan's freshmen are on campus, and they're impressive — but they're not the only ones. Here's some intel on them and the rest of the team through five workouts. Plus, where things stand with Michigan basketball recruiting ...
Starting with hoops and the workouts ...
The freshman class isn't all in yet — the prize, five-star wing Caleb Houstan, is still playing for Team Canada in the FIBA U-19 tournament — but the other five are, and they're impressive. We told you yesterday about power forward Will Tschetter. Assistant Phil Martelli told us 'people are going to have to hold on to their hats' about the big man, and it's looking as though he might be one of the more underrated players in his entire class.
"We still have to see what happens when the lights go on," Martelli cautioned ...
But it's clear they like him a lot, and that's the consensus. As for the rest of the freshmen, big man Moussa Diabate is an "athletic freak."
"I hope we have some sort of Midnight Madness, because a dunk-off between Moussa and Brandon Johns would be incredible," Martelli said.
We hope so, too.
Diabate has shown great promise and will be outstanding defensively and around the rim. His shooting, however, is going to need major work according to sources close to it. "Raw" is the word used to describe him on that end, and while incoming grad transfer DeVante' Jones singled him out yesterday as someone who caught his eye (in large part because of his impact on defense as a rim protector), any talk of him being a one-and-done is way premature.
In fact, some who would know said, 'no way.'
Now, that doesn't mean it can't happen. The NBA often drafts on potential, and Diabate has a ton of it. But we expect him around for a few years.
Frankie Collins has been good at times, not so good at others. We wrote a week or so ago that we'd expect him to have a similar type first year as Xavier Simpson back in the day. He has struggled shooting the ball and needs to fix the jumper, but he can get into the lane and distribute, and he really gets after it defensively.
What we wrote about Simpson/Collins was exactly what our source said about it.
"I wasn't here for X's first year, but I'd guess they probably had similar beginnings," the source said.
There was a point early in his career where John Beilein and Co. wondered whether they'd have to recruit over Simpson. They obviously didn't, and this staff does love Collins' potential, so we're not suggesting that's going to be the case. At all. Collins will likely play as the backup point guard to Jones, who they've only seen a bit (he just arrived) but will be the guy at the point.
Wing Isaiah Barnes had a challenging first week, and some believed he was a bit shell-shocked, struggling being away from home. His second week was much better, and he's really shown he can shoot the ball. He's going to have to get used to the structure and the strict requirements, but he's going to be able to shoot it.
We mentioned shooting guard Kobe Bufkin yesterday, as well. He's better than anyone expected (multiple sources), and as Martelli said, "smooth, smooth, smooth." Fifth-year senior guard Eli Brooks has been particularly impressed with him, and he's been shooting the ball well, too.
With some added strength, this kid is going to be a stud.
****
On the current team, second-year freshman guard Zeb Jackson has made a move. He's really improved, and nobody — nobody — on the team works harder at his game, per several sources. He's been shooting it well, and everyone wants to see his hard work pay off. He's a great kid, a great representative of the university and extremely well liked. There's a reason they have him along when they are hosting top-ranked recruits.
In short, he's got a chance. He won't be playing any point — he'll be off the ball — but he's coming on and will vie for time.
Johns has been solid, and he's a guy who can take another step. They've been waiting three years for it, but last year, every practice there was at least one teaching moment for him. That hasn't been the case through five practices, and that's a good sign. He's shooting the ball well and being pushed by the freshmen and others. That seems to be bringing out the best in him.
One of those "others" is Terrance Williams. He's lost a lot of weight and came back in great shape, and he's really shooting the ball well. He made only one triple last year, but he's a better shooter than that, and he's putting up nice numbers. He has to do it when the lights are on, of course, but he's really taken a step. He's such a smart player, good on both ends ... he's going to play, and we wouldn't be surprised if he were the most improved player on the team.
Hunter Dickinson is Hunter Dickinson. He's only been back for a few days, but he's a load ... and a leader. He "aimed" the ball last year on his jumper, and the goal this year is to get him more involved from the outside and just trust it more.
Eli Brooks — just 'wow' as a leader.
"That was the single most important piece," one source said. "He's been incredible, both as a teacher and on the floor."
He's shooting the ball extremely well. He'll be playing shooting guard, and possibly point in a pinch, though Jones and Collins are the two who will likely be doing the ball handling.
Watch for much, much more on Michigan basketball in the days to come, along with Part III of ITF — loaded basketball recruiting scoop — tomorrow.
Starting with hoops and the workouts ...
The freshman class isn't all in yet — the prize, five-star wing Caleb Houstan, is still playing for Team Canada in the FIBA U-19 tournament — but the other five are, and they're impressive. We told you yesterday about power forward Will Tschetter. Assistant Phil Martelli told us 'people are going to have to hold on to their hats' about the big man, and it's looking as though he might be one of the more underrated players in his entire class.
"We still have to see what happens when the lights go on," Martelli cautioned ...
But it's clear they like him a lot, and that's the consensus. As for the rest of the freshmen, big man Moussa Diabate is an "athletic freak."
"I hope we have some sort of Midnight Madness, because a dunk-off between Moussa and Brandon Johns would be incredible," Martelli said.
We hope so, too.
Diabate has shown great promise and will be outstanding defensively and around the rim. His shooting, however, is going to need major work according to sources close to it. "Raw" is the word used to describe him on that end, and while incoming grad transfer DeVante' Jones singled him out yesterday as someone who caught his eye (in large part because of his impact on defense as a rim protector), any talk of him being a one-and-done is way premature.
In fact, some who would know said, 'no way.'
Now, that doesn't mean it can't happen. The NBA often drafts on potential, and Diabate has a ton of it. But we expect him around for a few years.
Frankie Collins has been good at times, not so good at others. We wrote a week or so ago that we'd expect him to have a similar type first year as Xavier Simpson back in the day. He has struggled shooting the ball and needs to fix the jumper, but he can get into the lane and distribute, and he really gets after it defensively.
What we wrote about Simpson/Collins was exactly what our source said about it.
"I wasn't here for X's first year, but I'd guess they probably had similar beginnings," the source said.
There was a point early in his career where John Beilein and Co. wondered whether they'd have to recruit over Simpson. They obviously didn't, and this staff does love Collins' potential, so we're not suggesting that's going to be the case. At all. Collins will likely play as the backup point guard to Jones, who they've only seen a bit (he just arrived) but will be the guy at the point.
Wing Isaiah Barnes had a challenging first week, and some believed he was a bit shell-shocked, struggling being away from home. His second week was much better, and he's really shown he can shoot the ball. He's going to have to get used to the structure and the strict requirements, but he's going to be able to shoot it.
We mentioned shooting guard Kobe Bufkin yesterday, as well. He's better than anyone expected (multiple sources), and as Martelli said, "smooth, smooth, smooth." Fifth-year senior guard Eli Brooks has been particularly impressed with him, and he's been shooting the ball well, too.
With some added strength, this kid is going to be a stud.
****
On the current team, second-year freshman guard Zeb Jackson has made a move. He's really improved, and nobody — nobody — on the team works harder at his game, per several sources. He's been shooting it well, and everyone wants to see his hard work pay off. He's a great kid, a great representative of the university and extremely well liked. There's a reason they have him along when they are hosting top-ranked recruits.
In short, he's got a chance. He won't be playing any point — he'll be off the ball — but he's coming on and will vie for time.
Johns has been solid, and he's a guy who can take another step. They've been waiting three years for it, but last year, every practice there was at least one teaching moment for him. That hasn't been the case through five practices, and that's a good sign. He's shooting the ball well and being pushed by the freshmen and others. That seems to be bringing out the best in him.
One of those "others" is Terrance Williams. He's lost a lot of weight and came back in great shape, and he's really shooting the ball well. He made only one triple last year, but he's a better shooter than that, and he's putting up nice numbers. He has to do it when the lights are on, of course, but he's really taken a step. He's such a smart player, good on both ends ... he's going to play, and we wouldn't be surprised if he were the most improved player on the team.
Hunter Dickinson is Hunter Dickinson. He's only been back for a few days, but he's a load ... and a leader. He "aimed" the ball last year on his jumper, and the goal this year is to get him more involved from the outside and just trust it more.
Eli Brooks — just 'wow' as a leader.
"That was the single most important piece," one source said. "He's been incredible, both as a teacher and on the floor."
He's shooting the ball extremely well. He'll be playing shooting guard, and possibly point in a pinch, though Jones and Collins are the two who will likely be doing the ball handling.
Watch for much, much more on Michigan basketball in the days to come, along with Part III of ITF — loaded basketball recruiting scoop — tomorrow.
