Michigan Basketball: The latest on Wolverines 2022 recruiting

The calls from the Michigan basketball staff to 2022 recruits haven’t stopped, and there’s more than just a conversation being exchanged with one prospect.

Not long ago, college coaches were allowed to contact recruits from the 2022 class, and the Michigan basketball staff didn’t waste any time calling some of the best prospects from around the country.

The reported conversations keep rolling in, and you can read about the initial calls here and here. On to the latest:

Jaden Schutt

-SG/Yorkville High School

-Yorkville, IL

-247sports: Not Ranked

-Rivals: 146 NATL

Jaden Schutt, the sharpshooter from Illinois. Jaden went from unranked to one of the most talked-about prospects for his entire class. Once the phone lines opened up, the who’s who of college basketball reached out, and as of Tuesday, Schutt had received three offers from three Big Ten Schools.

As a record-setting 3-point shooter, it makes sense that so many people reached out to a kid that shot 45 percent from beyond the arc as a sophomore.

Kareem Rozier

-PG/Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 

-Michigan

-247 sports: Not Ranked

-Rivals: Not Ranked

Easily one of the most underrated recruits for the 2022 class is Kareem Rozier, a phenomenal passer and emerging scorer in Michigan’s Catholic league. When you watch his tape, it makes you wonder why he hasn’t broken through the ranks, but it’s only a matter of time before he does just that.

EndlessMotorSports provided the evaluation:

"Kareem is a gifted passer with elite vision. He consistently passed teammates open by placing precision dimes to areas that resulted in open shots rather than passing to spots where teammates were currently located. Rozier is the classic table setter with supreme spatial awareness that creates easy looks for others ."

Dereck Lively

-C/Westtown School

-Bellefonte, PA

-247sports: 40 NATL, 4 PF, 4 PA

-Rivals: 50 NATL

-ESPN: 47 NATL, 6 C, 4 PA

Dereck Lively has jumped up in the ranking, and that’s not the only place where he’s growing. Last June, Lively was listed at 6-foot-7 and is now being reported as a 7-footer.

Here’s what Brian Snow had to say in 2019 about Dereck:

"One of the best long term prospects at the camp, Washington showed impressive natural talent. His production was inconsistent at times, but when he was going good, it was impressive to see. Washington measured in at 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, with a 7-foot-3 wingspan. That combined with his skill shooting the basketball and very good athleticism, makes him such an intriguing long term prospect. He at times settled too much for jumpers, but Washington has the ability to attack the lane and score from deep. Also he showed to be a very good rebounder on both ends of the court."

James Graham

-SF/Nicolet High School

-Milwaukee, WI

-247 sports: Not Ranked

-Rivals: 27 PF

The confidence of James Graham is astonishing, and it’s primarily due to the fact that he’s undoubtedly a future NBA player. And his game mimics that of a former Syracuse hooper who went on to have one of the most recognizable names in all of basketball.

“Everybody calls me ‘Baby Mello’ because people say that I play a lot like Carmelo Anthony. I love the isolation game, one-on-one situations. I got elite pull-up (jumper), elite hesitation moves, elite step-back (jumper), and obviously good isolation moves,” James told Rivals. “I’m looking to develop more moves driving to the basket, not just jump over people…that’s what I want to get better at when I get to college. I have a 7-2 wingspan so I can play good defense and lock down my guy and contest shots, but I want to get better with my foot speed.”

Graham averaged 21 points a game and seven rebounds last season, and he could potentially fall into the top 100 for the major recruiting services soon.

Jalen Washington

-PF/West Side High School

-Gary, IN

-247sports: 17 NATL, 4 PF, 1 IN

-Rivals: 25 NATL

-ESPN: 15 NATL, 4 PF, 1 IN

Despite missing almost his entire sophomore season due to an ACL injury, Jalen Washington continued to be ranked near the top of his class, and that could mean with an outstanding junior year, he could rise even higher.

Here’s his evaluation from 247sports Brian Snow:

"Has ideal combination of size, length, skill and athleticism at the forward position. Has a huge wingspan and great hands, A new age power forward with tremendous upside. Can make shots from three, score down low or create off the dribble, A do-it-all player. A tremendous rebounder and someone who should be able to defend all over the court. He has to continue to get stronger and more consistent with his motor, but the physical tools and skills are there for him to be an elite prospect."