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Michigan basketball recruiting: Time to close on a top 2023 prospect

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•06/06/22•

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2024 four-star Papa Kante of South Kent (CT) Academy asked out of his Michigan NLI. (photo cred- Jamie Shaw)

Michigan head coach Juwan Howard and his staff continue to put in the work on the recruiting trail. The Wolverines need a big man in 2023 and appears to be closing in on one in South Kent (Conn.) School’s Papa Kante.

Kante, Rivals.com’s No. 83 junior prospect nationally, has a top four of Michigan, Maryland, Rutgers and Pitt. He was thought to be a potential package deal with four-star Connecticut prospect Gavin Griffiths, and it’s still possible. Griffiths surprisingly pledged to Rutgers before visiting U-M in the middle of June, as planned.

In fact, Griffiths and Kante were slated to be on the Michigan campus at the same time.

But Kante is still “Michigan’s to lose,” per On3.com’s Jamie Shaw. Head coach Juwan Howard has done an outstanding job with him, and he’s been relentless in trying to land the four-star.

“They have been recruiting me since November,” Kante said. “They have been in contact with me constantly. Coach Howard has been talking to me. He has been coming to see me personally; he’s been to my high school two times. South Kent is very tough to get to, so that means a lot. He has developed a lot of big guys, he played in the pros himself, and he says he will help me get to the next level.”

Kante will be at Michigan June 14, at which point the Wolverines will have a chance to all but seal the deal.

The 6-10 big man had an outstanding weekend at the Louisville EYBL session, averaging 12.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He shot 62.2 percent from the floor and also blocked two shots in his 27.2 minutes per game. He’s looking for a “family atmosphere,” and many believe he’ll find what he’s looking for on his visit to Michigan.

Kante plans to go home for the first time in three years after July Peach Jam and make his decision after “praying on it.” Again, Michigan appears to be in great shape.

Four-star Zayden High has Michigan high on his list

At 6-10, Zayden High of Spring Branch (Texas) Smithson Valley is a skilled forward who can shoot it. He’s looking for a place that can develop him, and he’s developed a great relationship with head coach Juwan Howard.

“I’ve only been on an official visit to UT-San Antonio,” High told Shaw recently. “We are setting up visits now. I want to get to Michigan, Arkansas, Houston, and Texas; those are probably my top schools.

“I built a good relationship with Coach (Juwan) Howard; he’s been good to me. I talk to them probably every other day, and they’ve been good to me.”

He’s a late bloomer who came out of nowhere, but he has the skill set to be elite, Shaw noted. He plans to commit in the middle of the season, perhaps around Christmas.

Michigan seems to have as good a shot as anyone for the On3 Consensus No. 32 player.

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