Michigan Basketball: Wolverines impress 2021 5-star Harrison Ingram

Michigan basketball doesn’t really land five-star players but Harrison Ingram, a 5-star from 2021 has taken a liking to the Wolverines and John Beilein.

The Michigan basketball team hasn’t been known for attracting five-star players in recent years but that could potentially change in 2021 with Harrison Ingram.

Ingram is a 6-foot-7 small forward from Texas and even though things are very early when it comes to the 2021 recruiting class, the 25th-ranked player according to 247 sports has an interest in the Wolverines.

One thing that has helped Michigan basketball in establishing a good relationship with Ingram is the fact that he plays AAU basketball with Jalen Wilson, the gem of the Wolverines 2019 class.

Here’s what Ingram told UMHoops in a recent interview ($):

"“I really like it,” Ingram said. “A kid from my AAU program is going there next year, Jalen Wilson. He’s going there and he says he likes it a lot. They’ve had a lot of success. Coach Beilein looks like a good coach. Looks like he’s an amazing coach.”"

Ingram is a versatile player that has the ability to play a bunch of different positions, essentially, any guard spot or on the wing. He’s athletic and can shoot the ball and even though UM hasn’t extended an offer yet, the Wolverines will likely do that soon, probably in June.

However, Ingram said in the same interview that he was going to visit Michigan and had been there once already. In some ways, Beilein recruits a little different than most coaches and he is really big on having kids visit before offering.

So the fact that Ingram and the Wolverines are working on scheduling a visit means things are somewhat serious. The offer should come soon but with Ingram, offers will likely keep pouring in. He was just offered by Oklahoma this week. Kansas, Baylor, TCU and Stanford are some others.

While Michigan basketball has done well on the recruiting trail the past few years, the one thing the Wolverines haven’t gotten is a bonafide five-star. Ignas Brazdeikis and Jalen Wilson were both top-50 recruits and most others have been solid four-star prospects.

But elite players or one-and-done type guys haven’t really come to Michigan and with Ingram, there appears to be a good chance. The Wolverines have momentum after a third straight Sweet 16 appearance and are now recognized as an elite program, with an elite coach.

And in terms of sending guys to the next level, the Wolverines are doing that with regularity too.

Just over the last three seasons, Moritz Wagner, Duncan Robinson, D.J. Wilson, Derrick Walton Jr and the three guys headed to the draft this year, Iggy, Jordan Poole and Charles Matthews, makes seven of the last three years, including two first-round picks.

Beilein has shown he can take players with four-star talent and turn them into NBA draft picks. Yet he also showed an ability to get immediate success from a freshman, as he did this past season with Iggy.

Either way, the Wolverines recruiting profile seems to be growing and landing a guy like Ingram, a legit five-star would be the next step.