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After securing commitments from Dug McDaniel and Tarris Reed Jr., Juwan Howard’s journey along the 2022 recruiting trail is far from over, with power forward/center Yohan Traore being the latest recruit to receive an offer from Michigan.
According to the 247 sports composite, Traore is ranked as the 67th best recruit and 11th best center in his class, but with the Summer he’s having, he should only be going up in those rankings.
The french big man made a name for himself at the NBPA Top 100 camp, with his showing there earning offers from the likes of Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Louisville, among others.
Traore was also turning heads over a four-day span at the Adidas 3SSB in Hoover, Ala. last month, showing teams and writers just how special he can be on the offensive end of the floor.
At Adidas 3SSB, Traore showcased his versatility on the offensive end, scoring from quick moves in the high post and drives from the three-point line, utilizing a quick spin move to blow past defenders.
He also showed off his shooting ability, as he has a silky smooth release from midrange and even showcased at the event that he can hit a three when called upon.
He’s great in transition as well, throwing down thunderous dunks as an excellent 2-foot leaper while also throwing long outlet passes (fast forward to 3:23 in the video above) to get his teammates buckets.
He can dominate from the high post and low post, as he has already mastered several moves when he has his back to the basket on the block.
He can finish over either shoulder, has a nice baseline turn-around, and loves to punish his opponents with poor positioning with a quick hook shot after taking a few dribbles toward the middle of the lane.
My biggest takeaway from watching his post play is that he does an excellent job of reading where the defender is before making a move, rather than making a quick decision and deferring to a go-to move.
He has good defensive awareness and clearly has a high basketball I.Q., as there appear to be very few holes in this big man’s game.
In terms of his fit with Michigan 2022 commits, I could see him sharing the floor with Reed Jr., with Traore showing off in the high post while Reed Jr. punishes people down low.
If Michigan were to land a commitment from the french big man, him and Reed Jr. could hold down the Michigan frontcourt for a few years, as they both have the ability to create their shot from the high and low post while also protecting the paint on defense.
They could play together or sub in and out for one another, and the idea of Dug McDaniel running a double high ball screen with both big men should give Michigan basketball fans goosebumps.
Traore is one of the hottest names in recruiting right now, and Juwan Howard can secure a commitment after he visits Ann Arbor, the young talent pool for the Wolverines will only continue to grow.