Does Michigan Basketball have a shot with 5-star Charles Bediako?

Michigan basketball has found themselves in contention to land several five-stars over the last two recruiting cycles and is right in the thick of it once again with five-star center Charles Bediako.

Last Saturday, Michigan basketball made the top five list for five-star 2021 center Charles Bediako.

Also on that list was Alabama, Ohio State, Duke, and Texas. Michigan basketball would really like to add a center in this class because the Wolverines will be losing Austin Davis after this season and will be thin at the position.

Bediako was offered by Michigan way back in late April and the Wolverines have made him a priority ever since. Now that Bediako has a final five that includes the Wolverines, that should mean they have a great chance to land him right? Not so fast.

Alabama, not Michigan is the heavy favorite

Juwan Howard has never seemed to pick up steam in this recruitment. There was never a whole lot of realistic buzz for Bediako to Michigan. Last month I predicted where every Michigan basketball 2021 target would end up and I predicted Bediako to Alabama. That seems like the popular trend right now.

Bediako has received seven 247Sports crystal balls to Alabama and also three Rivals FutureCast predictions to Alabama. So, why did Michigan not gain any traction with his recruitment?

I really think it has a lot to do with Bediako’s IMG Academy teammate and Michigan target Efton Reid. I believe most people think he will end up at Michigan and that has hurt their recruitment of other big men.

And if he does end up at Michigan, it won’t matter. But if somehow Michigan misses out on Reid, Bediako, Holmgren, and others, that will be a bad look for Juwan Howard and this Michigan basketball 2021 recruiting class.

One good thing about Bediako possibly going to Alabama is it will keep him away from Ohio State. The Buckeyes are also looking to add a center in this class. They have targeted many of the same big men as Michigan and have recruited Efton Reid and Charles Bediako very hard.

If Alabama lands Bediako and Michigan lands Reid like expected, Ohio State will have to scramble a bit to land a center in this class.

Bediako will likely make a decision soon but don’t expect Michigan to have much of a shot here. Their best shot at a five-star center remains with Efton Reid. Reid is expected to make a final list cut in the coming weeks.