Michigan basketball: Top 2023 target seems to be slipping away
Juwan Howard and his Michigan basketball coaches continue to work on the recruiting trail, extending offers to 2023 and 2024 prospects. There’s still the chance, too, that they’ll have to fill some 2022 slots if Moussa Diabate and/or Caleb Houstan choose to remain in the NBA Draft.
RELATED: Next big man pledge? Priority Papa Kante sets Michigan visit date
As of now, however, Michigan appears to be playing catch-up with the 2023 class. At one point, it appeared they were in good shape for wing Gavin Griffiths and big man Papa Kante. The two are good friends, and they’ve talked about playing together in college.
Kante has said Howard talks to him constantly, always checking in after his games, win or lose.
“Every time I talk to Gavin Griffiths — and every time I talk to Papa Kante, too — they both bring each other up in their interviews,” On3.com’s Jamie Shaw told us a few weeks ago. “They have talked about [playing together]. They haven’t talked about it with Michigan, but in the past Providence and some of those other schools over there.
“But every time I talk to Gavin, Michigan is the first school he brings up.”
Not anymore.
Griffiths was supposed to visit U-M June 14, the same week as Kante. The 6-7, 185 pounder out of West Hartford (Conn.) Kingswood-Oxford School wing is No. 15 in the On3 rankings, and his swagger draws comparisons to former Michigan wing Nik Stauskas.
He’s now slated to decide June 1, and it looks as though Rutgers will be the destination. Griffiths told On3.com’s Jamie Shaw he has set a commitment date for this Wednesday, June 1. On3’s Joe Tipton will be announcing the commitment.
Griffiths took official visits to Iowa and Rutgers, but Rutgers was Griffiths first official visit. He also took two unofficial visits to Rutgers and went to a few of their games this year.
“My expert pick has been placed with 100 percent confidence to Rutgers,” Shaw wrote.
What this means for Kante, we’re not sure. The South Kent (Conn.) School standout has also visited Rutgers, and now it appears his friend is headed there.
At the same time, Kante loves Howard and Michigan. Getting him on campus appears to be key.
“He loves my playing style how hard I play. He wants me to look at Moussa Diabate and Hunter Dickinson and how they play them,” he said. “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.”
He wants to commit after late-summer Peach Jam, just before his senior season.
“I will be looking for the school who shows me the most love,” Kante said. “Where I can go and develop my game for the next level. That is the dream — the next level.”
Kante is On3’s No. 85 2023 prospect nationally, and also one of the up and comers in his class.
Watch TheWolverine.com for more on Michigan basketball recruiting this summer.
