Michigan basketball offers two more 2024 prospects
Michigan coaches are widening their nets on 2024 recruiting. With more openings due to attrition, the Wolverines have offered two more outstanding prospects from the junior class.
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Montverde Academy (Fla.) power forward Asa Newell (6-9, 205) is On3.com’s No. 11 player overall in the consensus rankings. Indiana and Georgia are off to a good start in his recruitment — his brother is a walk-on for the Bulldogs — but Michigan is now involved.
Midway through his junior season, Newell was averaging 15.7 points, five rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
“I’m pretty good in a lot of areas,” he told On3’s Jamie Shaw. “My 3-point shot, running the floor, rebounding, I’m working on my post game. I’m really trying to refine my game and add little things here and there. My goal is to be dominant, so I watch a lot of Giannis Antetokounmpo and how he comes down the floor and dunks on people. Obviously, we are different, but I want to be dominant.”
From Shaw recently:
There has not been any public indication that Newell is close to making a public decision. However, a source close to the situation suggests the momentum is currently in Georgia’s corner. Newell’s brother, Jaden Newell, is a freshman there. He also carries a relationship with Mike White and the staff from their time recruiting him while at Florida.
VJ Edgecombe, meanwhile, plays at Long Island Lutheran.
Edgecombe is On3’s No. 40 overall player in the consensus and one of the biggest risers in the updated rankings, moving from No. 77 to No. 24 on the On3 list. Michigan has been watching him for a while.
“I’m a scorer who tries to get his teammates involved and is a leader on the floor,” Edgecombe told On3. “I defend, can shoot it, slash, and make plays. My shooting has really come around this season; I’m making quicker reads and playing off two feet. I watch a lot of Anthony Edwards and his competitiveness, and he is a three-level scorer who plays defense.
… “I haven’t been on any visits yet, official or unofficial. I would say I’m hearing the most from Wake Forest, Ohio State, Mississippi State, and Georgia Tech right now. All the schools who have offered me are recruiting me, really.
“I’m hearing a lot from schools that are interested, like Georgia, Michigan, Kansas, Indiana, Miami, and Penn State,” Edgecombe said. “I don’t have any visits set, but I will probably go to look at some schools after our high school season. I’ll probably try and get one or two in before AAU starts up.”
He has no timeframe yet for a commitment. Michigan needs to get him on campus and will try.
“I feel like once I start going on visits, I’ll get a better thought for the schools and how I fit in and where I’m at home; a timeframe will come,” he said.
He loves playing defense and wants a program interested in getting it done on both ends of the floor, something Juwan Howard demands at Michigan.
