Michigan Basketball: 7 top prospects warming up to Wolverines

Jaden Hardy

James Harden, eh, I mean, Jaden Hardy is the No. 1 combo guard in the country, and he knows it. The amount of swagger Hardy displays is unmatched, as are his skills on the court. He’s accurate from NBA range, and if you play him too closely, he’ll blow by you with fierce determination. Standing at 6-foot-4, Jaden has the size and range to defend just about anybody on the defensive end, and he’s a more than capable rebounder.

As a member of Vegas Elite, Jaden averaged 19.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists a game, and playing for Coronado High School, he averaged 30.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.4 assists a game on his way to being named Nevada’s Player of the Year.

Here’s Josh Gershon from 247 sports with the evaluation:

"Very good size for combo guard with long arms and plus athleticism. Impressive projectable frame with plenty of room to gain strength. Extremely versatile playmaker who can create for teammates or himself. Relatively efficient scorer from all three levels. Impressive ball skills and vision. Has size, length and lateral quickness to guard both one and two. Has been on consistent upward trajectory since arriving in high school. Can still improve jumper and scoring package. Will need to improve assist/turnover ratio to hit upside as a primary ball-handler. Easy elite prospect at this stage who currently projects as first round pick with lottery upside if he continues on same path."

Back in April, Jaden dropped his top 12 schools, and Michigan made the list.

While Kentucky is a heavy favorite for the sixth-best player in the 2021 class, it’s important to note U-M is still playing catchup in the process for every prospect, and on his Twitter page, Hardy emphasizes his roots to Detroit which could help out with his recruitment.

Outside of 247 sports, ESPN ranks Jaden 4th in his class and Rivals has him at 6th.