Five-star Michigan target Nimari Burnett commits to Texas Tech

Just a few days after 2020 four-star guard Moses Moody committed to Arkansas, another top target for Michigan at the guard position is heading elsewhere, as five-star Nimari Burnett has committed to Texas Tech.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder from Chicago was down to Michigan, Texas Tech, Oregon and Alabama when he made his decision Tuesday afternoon. He is the No. 22 overall prospect in the 2020 class, per 247Sports’ composite.

Seeing Burnett commit to Texas Tech is a big disappointment. Juwan Howard has known Burnett and his family since Burnett was a young kid, so to see that relationship not benefit the Wolverines is a letdown.

What isn’t a letdown is Michigan is still in the running for one of the top big-men in the class in four-star Hunter Dickinson. With four-star center Mark Williams committed to Duke now, it seems like Michigan is the school to beat for Dickinson. Two of the three crystal balls for Dickinson are in favor of the Wolverines.

As for the guard position, Howard and company will turn their attention to Chicago four-star guard Adam Miller, who was offered on Tuesday.

The No. 31 overall player in the 2020 class, Miller plans to make his commitment next Thursday, meaning he will not sign a letter of intent during the early signing period of Nov. 13-20. Will this offer change those plans? We will see, but as of now, all nine crystal balls are in for the hometown Illinois Fighting Illini. Rumor has it Miller may visit this weekend, so it would be huge for Howard and company to land a guy that highly ranked this late in the process.

Michigan is also still in pursuit of another five-star — Joshua Christopher.

Christopher will be on campus soon for an official visit, so it will be absolutely huge for the coaching staff to roll out the red carpet for him if they are that serious about signing another guard in this class to be alongside four-star Zeb Jackson. Unfortunately for Michigan, all five crystal balls for Christopher are in favor of UCLA.

If Christopher doesn’t commit to Michigan, it’s likely Howard will wait until the 2021 class to get another guard. So far, the Wolverines seem to be out in front for five-star point guard Khristian Lander, the top point guard in 2021. Of course, this is a long ways away, but Howard will have several options in 2021 if Christopher doesn’t work out in 2020.