Five-star 2021 forward Caleb Houstan commits to Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines have been in it to the end on several five-star prospects since head coach Juwan Howard took the job in the spring of 2019, but have finished as the runners up each time in the end. That trend has been altered with the commitment of 2021 forward Caleb Houstan.

Tipton Edits, who is typically locked in to recruitments given the graphic designs that are done for players, teased an incoming commitment late Thursday night, which was followed up by a run of 247Sports Crystal Balls.

Assuming he signs with the Wolverines, Houstan becomes Michigan’s highest-ranked recruit in modern program history, surpassing Glenn Robinson III.

Houstan, who reclassified from the 2022 class, is a five-star prospect and the nation’s No. 8 overall player per the 247Sports Composite rankings. He currently plays at Montverde Academy, which is where incoming freshman guard Zeb Jackson played last season. 247’s Jerry Meyer recently compared him to Marcus Morris:

Has good size as a combo forward with shooting range. Not overly athletic, but plays with strength and has body control. Dangerous three-point shooter. Finishes well inside the arc. Is composed with the basketball. Solid handler and passer. Strong rebounder. Comes up with points off the glass. Positional defender with versatility defensively.

Michigan now has five commitments in a 2021 recruiting class that ranks No. 1 in the nation and overtakes Michigan State for tops in the conference. The other players include a trio in four-stars point guard Frankie Collins (No. 60 overall player), wings Kobe Bufkin (No. 65) and Isaiah Barnes (No. 121) and three-star forward Will Tschetter (No. 154).