Michigan Basketball: Could first 2022 commitment be coming soon?
Michigan basketball doesn’t have any 2022 commitments yet but that could change soon with Dug McDaniel saying he will make his decision soon.
The Michigan basketball team is getting set to open the NCAA Tournament on Saturday against Texas Southern, but that doesn’t mean that the recruiting world comes to a halt.
Actually, things are a little crazy right now with hundreds of college players entering the transfer portal as soon as the season ended and many others likely to follow once the NCAA Tournament is over.
But things are still picking up on the recruiting trail and soon, once it starts to be the spring and the summer, recruits will start making their decisions and one Michigan basketball target who could be among those deciding soon is four-star point guard Dug McDaniel.
McDaniel is ranked No. 81 overall in the class of 2022 but the 5-foot-9 point guard is really underrated and has been a top target for Michigan basketball and head coach Juwan Howard for months. He’s even considered a Michigan lean by some and received a pair of Futurecast picks from Rivals.
McDaniel doesn’t have any crystal ball projections yet, but he recently told Jake Weingarten of Stockrisers that Michigan was among his top four schools along with Georgetown, Florida and VCU. He also told Stockrisers he would be deciding “soon.”
Here’s what McDaniel said about Michigan: “They’ve got a really good playstyle and the pace that they play with throughout the game is intriguing.”
McDaniel would be a great fit for what Howard and the Wolverines want to do, but Georgetown has been making a strong push. This is one to keep an eye on.
Michigan basketball in touch with a transfer
There has been some idea that Michigan could pursue a transfer before next season with guys like Franz Wagner and Isaiah Livers, along with some seniors, not expected to be back.
That idea got some credence on Thursday as the Wolverines reached out and made contact with Fatts Russell who is transferring from Rhode Island.
Rhode Island transfer Fatts Russell tells ESPN he's heard from Oregon, Gonzaga, Michigan, Maryland, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Penn State and Arizona State since entering the portal last night. First-team All-Atlantic 10 last season, third-team this season.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 18, 2021
Russell is a 5-foot-10 point guard and with Mike Smith, barring a return for another season, wi;; be gone, it could be an important addition unless someone like Zeb Jackson takes a big step forward, because, so far, he has not been ready.
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More than anything, it shows Michigan is interested in a veteran guard, which is one thing the 2021-22 team could really use.