2021 Basketball Recruiting Board update: Michigan continues offers to elite wings

Head coach Juwan Howard and the Michigan Wolverines continue to expand the recruiting board for the 2021 cycle with full attention being paid to the next class of prospects to court. Despite being spurned by a few top targets in the last cycle, the pursuit has not slowed one bit on that front.

We have a running offer board here on the site, which can always be accessed and bookmarked here. Let’s update the most recent names to be added to the list.

Five-star center Charles Bediako (St. Catharines, ON)

No. 21 overall player | No. 4 center

There is an obvious need for a boost on the wing in this next cycle, but Michigan has a not-so-sneaky need at center, as well. Only Hunter Dickinson is on scholarship for the 2021-22 season. Brandon Johns would be a senior, but is more of a four. Three other Big Ten schools are listed as “warm” for Bediako, including Illinois, Maryland and Ohio State — the latter of which he has visited several times.

Here’s what 247Sports has to say about what Bediako brings to the table:

Mobile center with good size, long arms and budding athleticism. Very physically immature with a frame that should eventually carry a lot more weight. Has improved motor/competitiveness throughout high school career. Still relatively raw on offense but hands and feet don’t give serious limitations. Can finish with both hands but prefers right. Footwork and face up ability could improve. Has made progress as rebounder and rim protector with strength. Needs to get stronger and add to skill but has high ceiling. On path to be high major starter with professional upside depending on skill development.

Four-star wing Matthew Cleveland (Alpharetta, GA)

No. 29 overall player | No. 5 shooting guard

Cleveland’s recruitment is still fairly wide open having recently announced a top 16 list of schools. Given that the amount of schools still vying for his services is that high, it stands to reason that Michigan should have a shot to get in on his courtship.

Having watched a bit of Cleveland’s game recently, I think he’s more of a slashing wing best suited to play the three in college. He does his best work around the basket and the energy he brings to the defensive side of the ball is impressive — with room to grow — and he rebounds his spot very well.

The Board

We’ve updated the board accordingly with a new tab to denote the players who are still considering Michigan or not. Here’s where things stand as of now.

The Wolverines have been eliminated from some five-star recruitments lately, but it is not nearly as painful as it may have been with 2020 guys in say, October of last year. It gives them the ability to continue to cast a wide net and build a board while continuing some of the virtual contact they have had with recruits. A decent amount of recruitments seem to be somewhat in a holding pattern until everyone gets the go-ahead to begin traveling for visits again, so Michigan is playing the long game like the rest of the country.

It stands to reason right now that two of the top guys on Michigan’s board for the moment come in the form of Jaden Akins right down the road in Farmington and Jalen Warley, who has family that played for Phil Martelli at St. Joseph’s. The Wolverines should wind up in a fist fight of sorts with Tom Izzo and Michigan State for the services of the in-state guard Akins.