After receiving an offer from a big-time blue blood program, it looks like Juwan Howard and Michigan are going to miss out on a top prospect in the 2021 class.
Bryce Hopkins, a four-star power forward from Oak Park, Illinois, was offered by John Calipari and Kentucky on Friday evening. After receiving that offer, a few crystal ball predictions came in for Hopkins to wind up in Lexington, including one from Michigan basketball insider Josh Henschke.
Howard and the Wolverines offered Hopkins last Sunday, just a week after he de-committed from Louisville. It appeared they were in good standing with Hopkins, but the Kentucky offer seems to be a bit too enticing at the moment, given it is a consistently great program that currently does not have a single player committed yet to its 2021 class.
Fortunately, the Wolverines already have one power forward in its class in three-star Will Tschetter. So if they swing and miss on Hopkins, it isn’t the end of the world by any means. Obviously, you’d like to always have a talent like Hopkins come into the class, but the more pressing need for Michigan right now is at the center position.
We will see where this ends up, but as of now, things aren’t looking too good for Michigan in this recruitment. Stick with Maize n Brew as this recruitment develops.
Hopkins is the No. 8 power forward and No. 33 overall player in the 2021 class on 247Sports’ composite. He also holds offers from Oregon, Notre Dame, Providence, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Xavier and more.