Michigan Basketball makes cut list for No. 2 recruit in 2022
There are some strong indications that five-star center Jalen Duren might opt for professional ball instead of college, but a number of college teams, including Michigan basketball, made his top 11 list which he released on Sunday.
Nine college teams and two professional options made the list. The G-League and NBL were listed as well as Michigan basketball, Villanova, Miami, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, Penn State, Memphis, and UCLA.
Duren is ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting class according to the 247 sports composite rankings. He is also ranked as the best center recruit and when you watch the 6-foot-11, 230-pounder play, it’s hard not to be reminded a little of Chris Webber.
2022 five-star Jalen Duren is down to eleven options. pic.twitter.com/wbTfyvIpe3
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 25, 2021
Duren plays for Montverde, which is the same program that five-star Michigan commitment Caleb Houstan plays for, along with 2020 signee Zeb Jackson.
The Wolverines have some connections there, but the fact that Juwan has shown an ability to develop big guys is also helping with Duren, especially if he decides to come to college because he will be doing so with NBA development in mind.
Here’s what he recently told 247 sports about Michigan and Juwan:
"“Juwan Howard is a great coach and I have a great relationship with him. He knows what he’s doing and I like their program over there. I’m definitely in talks with them. They use their bigs well and I feel like Juwan Howard really develops his guys and gets them playing together and playing well. I’m definitely looking at Michigan as one of my options.”"
There are some very good programs in that mix, with Kentucky being among the most notable, but I feel good about Michigan’s chances — if he chooses college — which I don’t think he will.
Jalen Pickett to Penn State
In other recruiting news for Michigan basketball, one potential transfer portal addition is off the board as Sienna point guard Jalen Pickett committed to Penn State.
BREAKING: Siena transfer Jalen Pickett has committed to Penn State, he tells ESPN. Former MAAC Player of the Year, Pickett was a top-25 transfer, one of the best available point guards in the portal. Huge pickup for Micah Shrewsberry and the Nittany Lions.https://t.co/BA9lvctshu
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 25, 2021
Pickett is a really good player and he should fit well in the Big Ten. But Michigan seems more focused on DeVante Jones right now, the former Sun Belt Player of the Year from Coastal Carolina.
Jones can shoot the ball and he also led the Sun Belt Conference in defensive win shares, so he would fit perfectly as a solid two-way player.
Michigan has a Zoom meeting scheduled this week with him and with Pickett and others flying off the board, it might be Jones or bust for the Wolverines in the portal.