Michigan Basketball: Will Wolverines add a top center next week?

Hunter Dickinson is one of the best centers in the country, and he’s a perfect fit for Juwan Howard’s Michigan basketball team. Will he commit to the Wolverines soon?

Listed at 7-foot-2-inches, Hunter Dickinson is a top target for head coach Juwan Howard who has shown an affinity for traditional big men. All of the recruiting efforts from the Michigan basketball staff might pay off soon as the big man turns 20 on Monday, a day that Hunter might decide which college he continues his athletic and academic career.

The fantastic news for the Wolverines is that all signs are pointing in the direction of Ann Arbor for Hunter over his other finalists Duke, Florida State, and Notre Dame.

Firstly, 247 sports crystal balls – which are not always accurate, but they, like everyone else, are formulating predictions based on the evidence – have the 35th ranked basketball player overall in the 2020 class choosing UM with a prediction of 71% to 29% undecided.

And secondly, Hunter’s girlfriend committed to Michigan as a track and field athlete.

Here’s what Hunter brings to Michigan basketball, according to Jerry Meyer, 247 sports Director of Basketball Scouting:

"Big body who can occupy space. Not an explosive athlete. Good basketball IQ and positional defender and rebounder. Effective in the high/low game. Knows how to seal his man and can also deliver a pass from the high post. Has reliable jump hook with his dominant left hand. Can make a face-up midrange shot. Should end up being a second-round draft choice."

Dickinson is the 6th ranked center and the second-best player from the state of Mayland, where he attends DeMatha Catholic – the same school that has the No. 1 hoop star from MD, Earl Timberlake, a Miami commit.

It’s hard not to see the comparisons between Dickinson and another giant already on the Wolverine squad, Jon Teske. The overnight development of the 7-foot-1 senior and the center centric approach Howard takes to the court each game are certainly going to play into Hunter’s decision. Teske’s stats have skyrocketed since Howard took over as head coach, going from 9.5 points-per-game to 16.7, and he bumped up his rebounds by two.

Prediction

My prediction is obvious: Hunter Dickinson is coming to Michigan. Many sources initially believed Hunter was either going for Michigan or Duke, but since the Blue Devils landed another 7-footer from the 2020 class in Mark Williams and the revelation of Hunter’s girlfriend pledging her allegiance to UM, it appears that Michigan has all but solidified the commitment.

Other recruiting news

Jace Howard, Juwan’s son, has yet to make make a decision even though, regardless of the recruiting website, he is expected to follow his dad.

“I have to [wait], but I’ll make my decision way before that,” he said via Rivals. “I can’t really say [why], but it’ll make sense eventually.”

The Wolverines are also heavily targeting Josh Christopher, who is a long shot for UM as the No. 2 shooting guard in the 2020 cycle is expected to sign with UCLA and stay in his home state of California. Although, the young Howard’s ambiguous comments could mean there will soon be an unveiling of future Michigan basketball stars.

Christopher may or may not be one of them, but he will be visiting today when the Wolverines take on Houston Baptist at Crisler Center, which will give Howard his best chance yet to sway the 11th ranked Mayfield High School senior.