Michigan commit Hunter Dickinson explodes for 40 points in latest performance

Another day around these parts and another young future Michigan Wolverines basketball player to get excited about. This time, it comes in the form of four-star center Hunter Dickinson, who committed to Michigan back in December just a few days before Christmas.

Dickinson, who visited Michigan over the weekend along with five-star forward Greg Brown and a host of others, went off for DeMatha Catholic in the win over St. Johns on Tuesday night. He finished with 40 points (16-for-22 shooting, 3-for-5 from three), nine rebounds, two assists, and three blocks. He is the first DeMatha player to go for 40 points in 22 years with the last being Keith Bogans, who played 11 seasons in the NBA.

Dickinson, who stands at 7-foot-2 and 255 pounds, is a four-star prospect and the nation’s 32nd-ranked player, per the 247Sports composite. This performance comes a month after coming out on top in a duel against the No. 1 recruit in the country in Evan Mobley, who is headed to USC next season.

All of the hype surrounding Michigan’s 2020 class (rightfully) goes to Isaiah Todd and the possibility of adding two more five-star prospects in Josh Christopher and Brown, but Dickinson is arguably the most important of the bunch. The Wolverines lose Jon Teske after this season and while Brandon Johns seems capable of playing the five, he’s a guy that probably fits better as a four most of the time.

Add in uncertainly about the futures of Austin Davis, who may not return for a fifth season, and Colin Castleton, who seems to have trended downward since the season began in terms of minutes played, and it is not hard to imagine Dickinson being a massive piece for Michigan next season.

Physically, Dickinson looks the part and is a competitor on the court. He’s far from soft and he flashes all of the abilities that we thought Juwan Howard may be able to unlock from Teske this season. This is someone you can run an offense through and get touches down low, but he is also a really good passer and a player that can stretch the floor and knock down shots from the perimeter, which is a part of his game that only continues to expand. As great as all of that is, it’s his ability to finish around the basket and soft hands that’s the most encouraging part of his game. He feels like the most polished big that Michigan has nabbed in quite a long time.

Michigan is going to have guys next season capable of getting their own buckets and creating offense, especially if Christopher joins in. Any other basketball recruiting class for the Wolverines in recent memory would have Dickinson as its crown jewel, but that speaks to the job that Howard is doing on the trail. Dickinson feels like a two-year prospect at this point, but we will have to wait and see what things look like on the court next season.

Dickinson recapped his effort with Capital Hoops after the win on Tuesday night: