Michigan Basketball is still looking to rebuild its roster following a disappointing season and the hiring of Dusty May as head coach.
While Michigan has been linked to several recruits, mostly players in the transfer portal, the Wolverines are getting an unexpected visit this weekend from a four-star recruit. According to Davis Moseley of 247 Sports, Justin Pippen, the son of Scottie Pippen, is currently in Ann Arbor talking to coaches and getting a feel for the program and May.
Chicago Bulls Legend’s Son, A Top-60 2024 Prospect, A Four-Man Prospect, Among A Host Of Recruits Visiting Michigan Basketball
Pippen has sky-rocketed up the recruiting rankings over the past few months. The 6-3 combo guard has produced several big games for a talented Sierra Canyon, which has gained a reputation for developing top college prospects over the last decade and a half, club this year.
In the 12 games Synergy tracked stats for this season, Pippen averaged 14.0 points on 37.1% shooting from the field and 32.4% from the 3-point line. He also compiled 5.8 assists, 2.3 steals, and fewer than two turnovers a game.
“The Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon guard has produced some big outputs this season, Jaime Shaw of On3 said.”However, the efficiency and processing are questions. The eye test will show you a guard with good size, who is comfortable with the ball in his hands and has no trouble touching the paint. He plays aggressively, though [he] needs to continue developing his scoring efficiency.
Pippen is a top-30-rated shooting guard in the country. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 62 prospect in the country, and ON3 ranks him No. 103.
Pippen holds scholarship offers from UC Santa Barbara, Texas A&M, Stanford, California, Northern Arizona, and Sacramento State. LSU, Georgia, and Loyola Marymount have recently entered the mix for Pippen, though none of the schools have offered him.
Michigan is the fifth recruiting trip that Pippen has made. Pippen also has visits to UC Santa Barbara, Texas A&M, Stanford, and Georgia Tech.
Oakland Transfer To Visit Wolverines On Sunday
Pippen is not the only recruit visiting Ann Arbor this weekend. Late Friday night, Joe Tipton of On3.com reported that Oakland forward Trey Townsend will take an official visit on Sunday.
Oakland forward Trey Townsend (@treyt430) will take an official visit to Michigan beginning Sunday, a source tells @On3sports.
The 6-6 Oxford, MI native averaged 17.3 PTS, 8.1 REB, and 3.1 AST this season. https://t.co/MPzewMVFDA pic.twitter.com/JF0u3smydY
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 12, 2024
Townsend has improved his production in his collegiate seasons and is coming off a career season, earning Horizon Player of the Year and Conference Tournament MVP. The 6-6 wing averaged 17.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in nearly 37 minutes while shooting .455/.375/.779 this past season.
Townsend produced 10 double-doubles and topped the 30-point mark twice. He closed out the season with a bang, posting three double-doubles and scoring 85 points over a three-game stretch—versus Milwaukee (Horizon League finals), Kentucky (NCAA tournament), and NC State (NCAA tournament).
“Townsend was truly the engine behind Oakland’s 24-win season,” Isaac Trotter of 247Sports said. “The 6-foot-6, 228-pound forward is a versatile, tough offensive hub. He drew over five fouls per 40 minutes, and he shot 217 free throws. Townsend is just a baller. Townsend isn’t a shooter — he doesn’t pretend to be, either — but he’s excellent in backdowns and can create so many advantages. His vision makes it so hard to double. Pairing Townsend with a stretch big man would make for an awfully tough front court cover.”
Townend, ranked as the 66th-best player in the transfer portal, declared his intention to transfer on April 3. He has reportedly heard from Michigan State though he also has entered his name into the 2024 NBA draft.
Vlad Goldin Is Also Visiting Michigan Basketball
One of May’s top players at FAU, Vlad Goldin, and a 7-foot Ivy Leaguer, Danny Wolf, will also be on Michigan’s campus this weekend.
Wolf showed tremendous improvement in year two of his collegiate career. This past season, he averaged 14.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals. He also produced 14 double-doubles and compiled a shooting slash line of .472/.345/.717.
Wolf is rated as the 13th-best player in the transfer portal by 247Sports. Here is what 247 Sports director of scouting Adam Finklestein said about Wolf:
Danny Wolf is a highly skilled big man who helped lead Yale back to the NCAA Tournament in his sophomore year.
While his height may be slightly embellished, he still possesses a rare combination of size and skill that has led to significant high-major interest out of the portal. Wolf may even have more shooting potential than we’ve seen so far, with naturally soft touch and clean mechanics that should yield a higher percentage when he’s not the focal point of opposing defenses and utilized as a floor-spacer more frequently. He’s a pick-and-pop threat and also very adept at putting the ball on the floor, giving him potential to operate out of various types of offensive actions.
Athleticism and durability are key variables moving forward.
According to Andrew Kahn of Mlive.com, Wolf has family ties to Michigan and is considering a handful of schools. Kahn said he had an in-home visit with the Wolverines coaching staff last week. Wolf is expected to take an official recruiting trip to North Carolina, though it is also possible that he will return to Yale.
After spending his first collegiate season at Texas Tech, the 7-1 Russian native has been with May at FAU for the past three seasons. Goldin is a big-body center who is a load to handle in the low post due to his skill and size. He is also a good scorer and rebounder.
Listed as the No. 28 prospect in the transfer portal, Goldin is coming off the best season of his career. The second-team all-AAC selection averaged 15.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks while shooting 67/3% from the field. He scored in double-figures in 29 of his 34 appearances and produced four double-doubles.
Goldin has also entered his name in the NBA draft.
