With the July evaluation period now over, recruits around Michigan now have a greater knowledge of where they stand in relation to getting scholarships from schools. Some players separated themselves from the rest of the pack making statements to school that they are worthy of an offer.
Kyle Kuzma 6’7″ 200 lbs SF Rise Academy (PA) 2014- Kyle was one of the top performers at the Las Vegas Fab 48 last weekend, resulting in new offers from the likes of Missouri, Memphis, UConn, and Florida State. Kyle, who competed with Dorian’s Pride 17U, is the definition of a mis-match. He can score in all facets of the game, Kyle can post up smaller defenders and take bigger post players to the basket on either side of the rim. However, Kuzma does have some ballhandling skills he can use. He has the ability to take a defensive rebound and push the ball up the ball and scoring in transition. Quality athlete and shooter to make defenders respect both areas of his offensive game. Kyle is still growing into his 6’7″ frame and will be dangerous once he adds a bit more muscle.
Josh Jackson 6’6″ 165 lbs SF Detroit Consortium 2016- Detroit area high school basketball fans are thinking to themselves as they read this, “We already know Josh is an elite prospect.” Well, he is. But Mr. Jackson solidified himself as one the nation’s top 2016 players at the Las Vegas Fab 48 playing with Dorian’s Pride. One national recruiting analyst said it best when stating Josh is the best shooting guard prospect regardless of class in the country. At one game in Vegas, Josh scored 22 points in the first half, and remember AAU first halves are only 16 minutes. Josh’s best side of the ball is offense, he has the handles, athleticism to get into the lane, the mid-range game, the three-point shot that defenders don’t know what he is going to give them. But what is the best attribute about his offensive game is that he is a facilitator like LeBron James on the floor. He is not always thinking about himself, and has extremely good floor vision. Josh has grown since last high school season and has added some weight too working out with Team USA, watch out Michigan, the next great one has arrived.
Ray Croon 6’5″ 170 lbs SG/SG Redford Thurston 2014- Another wing that can light a defender up. Ray and Team Detroit went down to both the Peach States Summer Showcase in South Carolina and Las Vegas 48 , and Ray lit defenders up scoring 20+ points in just about every game. Croon is a tall, long, athletic wing that gets into the lane with ease against smaller defenders and finishes with authority above the rim with high-flying dunks. He can also play some point, and is a quality outside jumper once he see’s a few go in early. Ray needs to go 100% all of the time while he is on the floor and not taking plays off on defense. He has too much talent for it not to be showcased on the floor.
Yante Maten 6’8″ 210 PF Bloomfield Hills Lahser 2014- Yante is a big powerful stretch-four forward that recently received offers from Hofstra and UNC-Greensboro during July. After making the transition from The Family to Team Detroit, Yante looked much more comfortable on the court. Yante dominated both the defensive and offensive paint for Team Detroit. He defends the post really well making it hard for opponents just to get a shot off, and sometimes even rebounded the shot he just defended. Offensively, Yante can shoot both the mid-range and three-point shot very well for a 6’8″ big man, set a high pick-and-roll and finish with authority at the rim, and runs the floor well in transition. Just needs a little bit more polishing up with his back to the basket game.
Miles Bridges 6’5″ 190 lbs SF Huntington Prep 2016- Miles was one of the best wings at the Indianapolis Adidas Invitational regardless of grade level. The 6’5″ wing has a unique game where he can be both a physical inside presence and play with skill and finesse on the perimeter. He can shoot the ball well to the three-point line, get to the basket against any defender, and jump out of the gym if needed. How much taller Miles grows from now to senior season will determine on what position he will seek to play at the college level. And speaking of college, Miles already has an Oakland offer, with interest coming from Indiana, Kansas, and Michigan State.
Darrell Davis 6’4″ 170 lbs Guard Detroit Douglass 2014- Darrell pulled in a few high-major offers at the Las Vegas Fab 48 coming from the ACC’s Florida State and the Big East’s DePaul, putting a nice cap on a fantastic final month of AAU for Davis. Darrell is a combo guard that is effective playing both off the ball and playing the one. He is a scoring machine with a variety of ways to fill it up, either slashing with a quick first step and taking defenders one-on-one to the basket with a strong handle on either side, or from the mid-range and pull-up game. He is a crafty playmaker and good decision maker with the ball in his hands who rarely makes mistakes resulting in turnovers. Adding some more muscle would make him a nightmare for defenders in Michigan.
Munis Tutu 6’0″ 160 lbs PG La Lumiere (IN) 2015- Munis played with Michigan’s own The Family for AAU and is a native of Canada. Tutu is a blinding quick point guard with the ball in his hands who is dangerous in transition. But don’t think that he is a careless player out there, he is a quick but not in the hurry point guard who sees the floor really well and plays with a very high basketball IQ, and has a strong handle to go along with it. He has recently added shooting to his game over the Summer which will make him a much more complete offensive player. Already has offers from the likes of Detroit, Kent State, Charleston and Binghamton, with added interest coming from Butler. Munis will need to put on some weight in order to achieve his full basketball potential which very well could be at the high-major level.
Leonard Harper-Baker 6’5″ Wing Detroit Southeastern 2014- One of Michigan’s more underrated wings in the 2014 class. Leonard came along way from his junior high school season and became much more of a complete ball player with the Michigan Hurricanes this Summer. He can play up to three different position on the basketball court, but is best suited for a slashing get to the basket scoring type of wing position. He improved both his jump shot and ball handling skills, and was really a tough match-up for defenders out on the perimeter. But what I like about Leonard was that he was always one the toughest and athletic players not backing down from anybody on both sides of the ball and would be an absolute steal for any college programs that would take him. Expect big things for both him and Southeastern in 2013.
Josh McFolley 6’0″ PG Mt. Clemens 2015- The lefty McFolley made the jump from the Michigan Hurricanes 16u to 17u team and did not miss a beat. Josh might be the best deep range shooter in the State of Michigan for the 2015 class, whether it be off the dribble or catching a pass from a teammate, when he starts the game making a few quick shots that is when you know you are in for a long night as a defender. He improved getting to the basket and finishing through contact over the Summer. The only question for Josh now is can he be a true point guard, run a team, not only scoring for himself, but also for his teammates. He will pair nicely with fellow backcourt mate Jermaine Jackson Jr. next year for the Bathers as they have hopes of getting to the Breslin Center to compete for a Class C title. Josh is being recruited by mostly A-10 and MAC schools.
Mike Laster 6’4″ SG/ Wing Detroit Cass Tech- I don’t think anyone plays the game the right way more than Mike Laster from Detroit Cass Tech. Mike recently pulled in a Bowling Green State offer at the Las Vegas Fab 48 competing with the Reach Legends. Mike has great length, size, and athleticism for a division one wing player. He can shoot the mid-range shot, spot up on the perimeter for a three, rebounds the ball well for a guard, and has now added a more aggressive style of play getting to the free-throw line over the Summer. With improving defense and ball handling skills, Mike is set to have an outstanding senior season at Cass Tech.
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The highly anticipated Michigan Elite 25 program will hold its first basketball camp this weekend at Cass Tech High School in Detroit, Michigan. 25 of the state’s top ranked player were mailed invitations from the classes of 2014 through 2017, who will come and participate for three, two-day sessions in a training camp-style practice with hopes of improving their skills before the high school season starts in November.
The Prep Ball Report 