Michigan Basketball: Latest updates on top targets from 2023

Michigan basketball doesn’t know how many scholarships it will have for the 2023 recruiting class but there will be some and here’s a look at the latest on top targets. 

Last week, we broke down some of Michigan basketball’s top targets for the Wolverines in the 2023 recruiting class. We also looked at potential scholarship numbers.

While Michigan isn’t expected to have any seniors on next year’s roster, unless there is a transfer, it’s highly unlikely that even if Hunter Dickinson and Caleb Houstan, would return for Michigan in the 2023-24 season, although it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility.

Still, whether through pro departures or transfers, Michigan basketball should be able to add 2-3 guys in the 2023 class and it’s clear that one priority is adding a big man.

Tarris Reed was a top-50 signee in the 2022 class and eventually, he is going to be the post-up option for Michigan, but probably not until 2023. By then, Michigan will need a backup option and it will also need some rim protection, which is where Papa Kante comes in.

He’s a top target for Michigan basketball in 2023 and the Wolverines were said to be among the favorites recently. Here’s what Kante said about Juwan Howard’s pursuit of him to On3.com:

"“Coach Howard texts me after every game I play — ‘good game, good win. He has come to watch me play two times, and I have been watching them play a lot this season. They are probably recruiting me the hardest right now. He loves my playing style and how hard I play. He wants me to look at Moussa Diabate and Hunter Dickinson and how they play them. They are looking at me as a four and a five. He lets his freshmen play and make mistakes. They also play through their bigs and throw the ball inside. He was also a four and a five, played in the NBA.”"

Those things all sound good for the Wolverines, who are also targeting Xavier Booker, an athletic big man who visited Michigan State this past weekend. He’s an elite athlete but it sounds like Kante is the better bet for U-M right now.

Michigan showed a lot of interest in four-star point guard Aden Holloway during the first live evaluation period. He’s an elite scorer and he’s a really exciting score-first kind of point guard. Here’s what he said recently to 247 sports about Michigan:

"“Juwan [Howard] is one of the best coaches. You see what he did in the tournament, everyone counted him out, they didn’t have that good of a season, he was out for a bit and then he made it to the Sweet 16. All of these coaches have a great resume and great accomplishments.”"

Kante and Holloway are probably two of the prospects Michigan is recruiting the hardest right now and the next step is getting them each on campus for a visit.