Michigan Basketball: Building Wolverines ideal 2021 recruiting class

Michigan basketball is off to a strong start in the 2021 recruiting class and here’s what the finished product will look like in the ideal scenario.

With as many as six or seven scholarships to fill when it’s all said and done, the 2021 recruiting class for Michigan basketball was always going to be large.

And thus far, in 2021, second-year head coach Juwan Howard, who is taking part in his first full recruiting cycle, has done an excellent job prioritizing prospects and landing three early commitments from top-100 caliber players.

Obviously, Will Tschetter, Isaiah Barnes and Kobe Bufkin have varying rankings from the recruiting sites. Bufkin goes up as high as No. 61, while ranking 78th in the 247 composite.

Barnes is also ranked outside the top 100 in the 247 composite and Tschetter, at least right now, is outside the top 100 too. However, all three are players missed out on evaluation opportunities, which tend to have a big impact on movement within recruiting rankings.

The Wolverines also added players in Bufkin, Burnes and Tschetter who are considered on the rise and also fit needs on the roster. Michigan basketball needed a couple of bigs, including one who can shoot and Tschetter fills that need nicely.

Barnes brings an athletic wing, who also has a solid 3-point shot. His game has upside, but at worst, he can be a solid three-and-def player, with some athleticism. Bufkin is a combo guard. He can eventually play the one or the two, but brings shooting, scoring and ball-handling.

Yet, the Wolverines still need to address the point guard position, as well other needs in 2021 and with three commitments already in the fold, here’s a construction of the ideal class.