Michigan Basketball adds 5-star recruit to top-ranked class

Michigan basketball’s top-ranked recruiting class in 2021 got even better Monday with a surprise commitment from five-star recruit Moussa Diabate.

Fans of the Wolverines have been needing a lift and Monday, the Michigan basketball program helped deliver it as U-M secured the commitment of five-star big man Moussa Diabate.

Michigan basketball just landed a five-star recruit back on Oct. 30, when Caleb Houstan committed to the Wolverines and just two days before the early signing period is set to begin, Diabate announced his commitment on Twitter to Juwan Howard and company.

The 6-foot-10 power forward/center is ranked No. 20 overall in the 2021 composite rankings from 247 sports and is fifth at his position.

While there was some growing chatter about Michigan basketball and Diabate in recent days, it was thought that Efton Reid was the top remaining target for the Wolverines.

How Diabate fits with Michigan basketball

However, Diabate fits perfectly in the 2021 class and will provide exactly what Michigan needs, which is a shot-blocking presence around the glass, as well as a player with elite defensive abilities:

Here’s what Jerry Meyer of 247 sports wrote about Diabate in his scouting report:

"“Energetic athlete who plays with aggression and a competitive edge. Thrives on contact and has an unorthodox style that is physically intimidating. High level rebounder who goes out of his area to pursue the ball. Very limited shooting range. Not uncomfortable with the ball but not a playmaker. A versatile and adept defender. Quality shot blocker.”"

The key sentence there is quality shot blocker because one thing this Michigan team didn’t have in the future was a shot-blocking presence. Hunter Dickinson is a very skilled big man and he’s a good rebounder, but isn’t known as a rim protector.

Howard’s class, which was ranked No. 1 in the 247 team rankings, even before the commitment of Diabate Monday, has landed high-quality players at each position.

U-M has also addressed all of its needs, while not having to sacrifice talent. The Wolverines now have six players ranked in the top 150 of both 247 sports and Rivals.

Michigan basketball came into this class needing a point guard, which it got in Frankie Collins. Then it nabbed a combo guard in Kobe Bufkin, a wing in Isaiah Barnes and an elite shooter/scorer in Houstan, as well as 3-point shooting big man in Will Tschetter.

The one thing missing was a rim protector and truly, Diabate is that and more. It’s just incredible to see Howard fill the biggest need left in the class with his second five-star commitment.

It’s interesting that the Wolverines nabbed this commitment without ever getting a crystal ball projection, but it’s a huge get for Howard, who is continuing Michigan’s transformation to a basketball school.