Michigan Basketball: Versatile Ian Burns joins Wolverines 2021 class

Meet Michigan basketball‘s newest member of the 2021 class, Ian Burns. He’s a versatile under-scouted prospect from New Trier High School and Mac Irvin Fire.

Some kids don’t have all the glitz and glamor of rankings and the attention that comes with it. That’s the case with Ian Burns, a member of New Trier High School and Mac Irvin Fire of the Nike EYBL circuit, and newest member of Michigan basketball’s 2021 class.

The alums of Mac Irvin Fire read like an NBA roster: Jahlil Okafor, Jabari Parker, Meyers Leonard, and Tim Hardaway Jr are just of few of their former stars.

With those four legends, however, we knew how good they would be out of high school because the recruiting services scouted them. They had stars, a composite score, and a national ranking.

Ian Burns doesn’t have those, but he does have heart, determination, and a spot on the Michigan basketball roster for 2021. He’s a walk-on and a hard worker with potential. His coach, Scott Fricke from New Trier, was brief with his comments about the new Wolverine, but direct.

“Ian has worked extremely hard both on the court and in the classroom. His ability to handle the ball and shoot with his length makes him very versatile. We are very proud of Ian,” Scott told me.

If you’d like to see some tape on Burns, you can check out his MaxPreps page by clicking here.

What you’ll see is a capable ball handler with a smooth, consistent, and accurate three-point shot. He’s an effective passer and implements creative ways to dish the ball to his teammates. On defense, he uses his length effectively and keeps the ball handler in front of him. Probably an instant starter at Division II and III, and an eventual contributor for the Wolverines.

The 2021 class

Ian joins the do-it-all shooting guard Kobe Bufkin, the up-and-coming wing Isaiah Barnes, and the sharpshooting forward Will Tschetter.

The class is ranked seventh nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten, but they’re not done yet. UM still has scholarships to spare and they require one or two centers – if Hunter Dickinson is a one-and-done, and someone at point guard, maybe two.

On Sunday, one of those positions could be filled as Jalen Warley is set to announce. He’s projected as a Seminole, but stranger things have happened. There’s also Frankie Collins and Carter Whitt, who are both solid floor generals.

At center, there are teammates at IMG Academy that would be perfect companions in the maize and blue. Canadian native Charles Bediako and Virginia native Efton Reid are top targets and ranked near the top of their class.