Michigan Basketball: Two key 2020 targets announce official visits to UM

Michigan basketball is starting to make even more progress on the recruiting trail as two five-stars from 2020 have scheduled official trips to Ann Arbor.

While new Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard has landed just one commitment since becoming the Wolverines head coach, there are signs that more commits are on the way.

Earlier this week, four-star power forward from 2020, Lance Ware, put Michigan basketball among his top-five teams and also scheduled an official visit for Sept. 5-8. That news was noteworthy, however, it’s even more important now that five-star guard Nimari Burnett, will visit then too.

Burnett, who has been a top target for the Wolverines in 2020 under both John Beilein and Howard, was one of the first players to have his offer re-affirmed by Howard and now the native of Chicago, Howard’s hometown, is giving UM a visit. He will also visit Alabama (Sept. 27) and has previously visited Louisville. This development is according to Stockrisers.

Burnett is a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Chicago and he is listed as the No. 23 player nationally in 2020, as well as fifth among combo guards and seventh in the state of Illinois. His ability to shoot, score and handle the ball would be ideal next to 2020 commit Zeb Jackson.

The elite guard is supposed to cut his list down to five teams soon and it seems like Michigan will make the cut, along with at least Bama and Louisville. UCLA, Stanford, Marquette, Illinois, Auburn, Wake Forest, Arizona, and Arkansas are the others in the hunt.

As with Ware, who has one crystal ball now projecting him to Michigan, getting Burnett for an official visit is huge. It will give Howard and the staff a chance to sell the five-star on their vision for Michigan basketball. It’s also the best chance to persuade him to become a Wolverine.

Additionally, Howard and company will be hosting another five-star prospect soon and that’s big man Walker Kessler. The big man from Fairburn, Georgia, will take an official visit to Ann Arbor Aug. 31 according to Dan McDonald of Rivals.

Of all the five-star recruits Howard has offered in 2020, it’s not a coincidence that Burnett and Kessler have always been viewed as the most likely to sign with the Wolverines. Kessler had an interest that also dated back to Beilein and he hasn’t been shy about his affinity for Howard and his NBA roots.

The ability to work with and develop bigs could help land the 6-foot-10 center that is also considering Duke, Gonzaga, Auburn and Cal. 80 percent of his crystal balls with 247 sports are currently sitting with the Blue Devils.

But that’s nothing new. The reality is that Michigan has ground to make up with Kessler, Ware and Burnett. Ware has one expert convinced he will choose the Wolverines, but landing either five-star will take some work.

However, getting an official visit is the first step and doing so keeps legitimate hope alive for Ware, Kessler and Burnett, who would each qualify as a huge get for Howard and the new staff.