Michigan Wolverines news: A new 2023 hoops target, a recruiting miss, and more

In our latest Michigan Wolverines news roundup, Michigan basketball has a new 2023 target, a recruiting miss for Michigan football, and more. 

The Michigan Wolverines have been looking to add pieces to the 2023-24 Michigan basketball roster for weeks but there are still two open scholarship spots.

There are still players in the transfer portal, but Michigan basketball might be taking another route in terms of a 2023-24 roster addition, hosting JUCO transfer guard Cobi Campbell for an official visit this weekend according to The Wolverine. 

Campbell is a 6-foot-2 guard that played for North Idaho last season. He would have three years of eligibility left and he told The Wolverine he would make a decision soon.

This seems like a move right out of the John Beilein playbook when the Michigan basketball program added Division III transfer Duncan Robinson.

That worked out pretty well and the 6-foot-2 Campbell can definitely shoot. He made 54 percent of his field-goal attempts overall on his way to shooting 54 percent from the field. He also shot 52.4 percent from 3-point range and 82.4 percent at the free-throw line.

Campbell’s team was 28-1 and he averaged over 17 points per game, as well as four rebounds and four assists. The competition is obviously not Big-Ten caliber or anywhere close.

But you could say the same thing about Robinson. Campbell can shoot and this visit will probably give the staff a chance to evaluate him since an offer hasn’t been made.

Michigan football misses on Gatlin Bair

Things have been trending the wrong way with Gatlin Bair. The elite 2024 wideout from Idaho announced his commitment to Boise State on Saturday.

Michigan football was in a good spot after his official visit, but Bair, who is 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, and runs a 10.15 in the 100-meter dash, took an extended visit to Boise State on the final weekend before the dead period.

It seems that visit swayed his decision and the No. 40 overall announced his pledge to the in-state Broncos. However, Bair will take a Mormon mission after the season, so he actually isn’t expected to sign or enroll anywhere until 2026.

So in a couple of years, Michigan football could still have a chance.

More Michigan Wolverines make preseason watch lists

If you’re having a hard time keeping track of all the preseason award watch lists for Michigan football players, three more were added late this week.

Colston Loveland and AJ Barner, who I think will be viewed as co-starters this season, were each named to the Mackey Award watch list which goes to college football’s best tight end.

Drake Nugent, who was added from the transfer portal at Stanford, but has multiple seasons of starting experience, was named to the Rimington Award watch list. That goes to the best center in college football and was won by Olu Oluwatimi of Michigan football last season.