Michigan Basketball to host 5-star, plus more on 2023 recruiting

Michigan basketball might be done with recruiting in the 2022 class and now the Wolverines have shifted their focus to 2023. 

It’s hard not to be impressed with the job Juwan Howard has done on the recruiting trail since he joined Michigan basketball as the program’s head coach.

In his first cycle, which he came in late, the Wolverines had one of the best recruiting classes in the Big Ten, which included Hunter Dickinson among others.

Last year, in the 2021 recruiting class, Michigan basketball signed six prospects, including two five-star recruits and three McDonald’s All-Americans.

And in 2022, Juwan was able to land two top-50 kids in Jett Howard and Tarris Reed as well as Dug McDaniel and Gregg Glenn — two consensus four-star recruits.

While Michigan could add another recruit to the 2022 class, most likely, depending on the numbers and who leaves after the season, it looks like U-M will take a wait-and-see approach.

Juwan could also be saving a spot potentially for the transfer portal as the Wolverines have added transfers in each of the past two offseasons.

Last year it was Mike Smith, who was just selected in the G-League draft, and this past summer, U-M landed DeVante Jones, who should start at point guard this season.

On the recruiting trail, it means much of the focus has shifted to the 2023 class and there is some news to report.

Four-star power forward (No. 33 in 247 sports composite) Sean Stewart was in Ann Arbor over the weekend and following his visit, Michigan offered the 6-foot-8 prospect Monday night.

Florida, Stanford, and Georgetown have been among those recruiting Stewart the hardest according to 247 sports, but a visit to Ann Arbor can shake up a recruitment and we’ll see if that happened with Stewart who is one of the fastest-rising prospects in the 2023 class.

Here’s part of what Brandon Jenkins of 247 sports wrote about him after watching him this summer:

"“He gets off the floor well, has a nice shooting touch, and plays with an edge. A prospect who is high on academics, Stewart’s high IQ also translates on the floor as he reliably gets the job done each time he laces them up.”"

Michigan basketball will host five-star Mackenzie Mgbako

In terms of the entire 2023 recruiting class, few players are more talented than Mackenzie Mgbako who is ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 247 sports composite rankings.

Mgbako is 6-foot-7 and extremely talented. He just visited Duke earlier this month. North Carolina, Kentucky, and all the blue bloods are involved but so is Michigan.

The Wolverines are getting into that class and Howard has secured an official visit from the No. 3 overall recruit.

Duke is the early crystal ball leader and likely the team to beat, but it’s still a big deal for Michigan to get him on campus and after that, you never know.

Things changed for Tarris Reed after his visit and Howard has the ability to do that. He’s one of the best recruiters in college hoops and we’ll see if he can work his magic again.