Michigan Basketball: Wolverines leading with 5-star Efton Reid
Efton Reid has plenty of suitors prioritizing him, but according to one Rivals analyst, Michigan basketball is in the lead for his services.
Efton Reid, a five-star, has a top list of schools and Michigan basketball is the squad to beat, according to Rivals analyst Corey Evans.
Here’s part of what Evans wrote in his analysis:
"“Reid played travel ball Terrance Williams and Hunter Dickinson last summer, and with Michigan facing a void in the frontcourt after the season, the Wolverines could do a lot worse than land the big 7-footer. Howard has communicated with Reid that he can configure a way for him and Dickinson to share the floor together which might make the idea of playing for the former NBA star even more intriguing.”"
The other contenders are Florida State, Georgetown, Ohio State, Pitt, and Virginia.
247 sports internally has Reid as a four-star, 28th nationally, the fifth-best center, and No. 5 out of Florida. His composite is pretty close at five-stars, 21st for the cycle, the fourth-best center, and fourth from FL. Although, Reid wasn’t always a Floridian.
Before transferring to IMG Academy, Efton played at Steward School in Virginia and for Team Takeover, as noted by Evans. There is a bond between him and former his former teammates, and yet, convincing a prototypical center that he can be on the court at the same time as another prototypical center might be a tall task.
While the two are familiar with each other, neither have exceptional speed or perimeter defense. Both are slower yet effective shot blockers, dunk specialists, and dedicated teammates with a capable three-point shot.
In a scenario where both big men are on the court, there would only be three man fast breaks and a shorter shot clock on a normal set.
It’s not an impossibility, although, some might consider that lineup a liability. Regardless, it would be interesting to see on the court and a miracle if Howard can pull it off.
If not Efton, then who?
There’s a couple of names I’ve mentioned before that are solid candidates for the center position in 2021. One of them is Nate Bittle, another five-star who seems to be gravitating toward the Wolverines.
Nate and Efton are similar in stature, but not in ranking. Bittle is ranked ninth in the country and U-M is in hot pursuit.
“Bittle, a five-star center who ranks in the top 10 nationally, is among Howard’s primary 2021 targets — the type of player who would be the cornerstone of nearly any school’s class.” Theo Mackie from UM Hoops said in his article. “And while all three of 247’s Crystal Balls suggest Bittle will stay in his home state and attend Oregon, Michigan has been rapidly rising for him lately, after getting a late start on his recruitment when Howard was hired just 14 months ago.“
The other candidate here is Charles Bediako, who would be a phenomenal pickup. Charles is also a five-star and a future teammate of Efton at IMG Academy.
In other news
Michigan basketball was a finalist for two prospects from the 2021 recruiting class and both committed elsewhere.
Angelo Brizzi, a four-star, is a phenomenal three-point shooter and point guard – he committed to Villanova Monday night.
Next. Evaluating the depth chart with Isaiah Livers. dark
On the other coast, the 8th-best recruit in the country choose UCLA over the Wolverines. Peyton Watson is a gifted small forward from California and would’ve been one of U-Ms highest ranked commits in the 247 sports ranking era.