2020 five-star PF Isaiah Todd commits to Michigan

Juwan Howard and the Michigan basketball program received huge news Thursday night, as 2020 five-star power forward Isaiah Todd verbally committed to the Wolverines.

The 6-foot-10, 195-pounder from Raleigh, North Carolina narrowed his recruitment down to Michigan and Kansas a couple weeks ago, and the crystal ball picks for Michigan came flooding in not long after that. Todd is the No. 2 power forward and No. 12 overall player in his class, per 247Sports’ composite.

Todd is the first five-star prospect to commit to Michigan under Juwan Howard, and the first five-star player to commit to Michigan since Glenn Robinson III back in 2012.

“I’m headed to Michigan because of coach Juwan Howard and his background in the NBA and his background at Michigan,” Todd told 247Sports’ Evan Daniels. “He has connection on the other side, obviously coach Bill Self did too, but considering me and coach Juwan’s relationships I just felt like we were a little bit closer just simply because we talk more and connected more on a different level.

“He talked about when he committed he was the first guy to commit and he started recruiting and he just thought I reminded him a lot of himself. He told me that a couple of times, when we were sitting down in the film room he showed me film of him and guys on the next level and I just feel like everything fit perfectly.”

Todd projects as a one-and-done type of player, and is expected to make an instant impact. 247Sports’ Director of Basketball Scouting Jerry Meyer projects Todd to be a first round player, and comps him to former Indiana Hoosier Noah Vonleh.

“A long and athletic forward who loves to play facing the basket,” Meyer wrote. “Can score off post moves but has a finesse game. Building strength and mass is a key to development. Can score at all three levels. Handles ball well but decision making is questionable at times. Is a shot blocker but needs to discipline his defense as well as his offense. Known as an upside player, but has been behind the curve on expected development.”

There is no doubt about it — this is a GIANT victory for Howard and the basketball program. The fact Howard was able to send an offer to Todd, get him interested enough to officially visit in late September and then secure a commitment from him just a few weeks later is about as good as it gets with a player of his caliber.

Now that Todd is committed, the coaches will focus in on a couple more players in the 2020 class, most notably four-star center Hunter Dickinson (who currently has 67 percent of the crystal balls to Michigan), four-star center Mark Williams (who put Michigan in his final three a couple weeks ago), four-star guard Moses Moody and five-star guard Nimari Burnett.

Todd is the second commitment for the Wolverines in the 2020 class, joining four-star guard Zeb Jackson, who has been committed to Michigan for more than a year.

Watch some highlights of the newest Michigan Wolverine right here.

MORE ISAIAH TODD GOODNESS:

Quick analysis: What Isaiah Todd brings to Michigan Basketball

Podcast: Reacting to Isaiah Todd’s decision to commit to Michigan and what he brings

Identifying Michigan basketball’s next targets after Isaiah Todd’s commitment