Newsstand: Michigan basketball's 2023 recruiting class ranks 36th nationally
Tweets Of The Day
2023 South Kent (Conn.) School four-star big man Papa Kante pledged to the Wolverines Thursday evening.
Kante chose Michigan over fellow finalists Maryland, Memphis, Rutgers and Pittsburgh, announcing his decision Thursday evening (Oct. 20). Kante is the No. 76 overall player and seventh-best center nationally in his class, per the On3 Consensus. He ranks No. 32 overall via On3’s rankings. He’s the first member of the Wolverines’ 2023 class.
Michigan’s 2023 haul, despite having just one member, ranks No. 36 in the country, per the On3 Consensus.
This week, several publications — The Athletic, PFF, CBS Sports, The Sporting News and the Associated Press — released their midseason All-America teams, and four different Michigan players made appearances.
Corum made the first team on each, which comes as no surprise. He was joined on the first team of The Athletic‘s list by graduate center Olusegun Oluwatimi and senior defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
“Oluwatimi was a Rimington Trophy finalist at Virginia and has seamlessly fit right into the center of an offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award last year,” The Athletic wrote. “Michigan ranks fifth in yards before contact on running back runs, and Oluwatimi hasn’t given up a sack, per TruMedia.”
Smith has taken on countless double teams but still made plays. He’s third on the Wolverines with 27 tackles, including 2.5 behind the line of scrimmage and a half-sack. He’s added 11 pressures, per PFF.
“The 6-foot-3, 337-pound Smith has become a force in the middle of the line, taking up blockers to allow others to make plays,” The Athletic wrote. “He’s the anchor of a Michigan defense that ranks seventh in yards per rush and sixth in rushing yards per game.”
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Michigan senior EDGE Mike Morris landed on The Athletic‘s second team and PFF’s third team.
Morris has racked up 15 tackles, including 8 for loss, and a team-leading 5 sacks with 4 quarterback hurries, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble and a blocked field goal. His 27 pressures rank 10th nationally among edge rushers and tie for first in the Big Ten. His 12.6 pressure rate slots eighth nationally and second in the conference among the same group.
Michigan freshman cornerback Will Johnson’s big hit on Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford played a factor in the signal-caller leaving the game early and not returning.
Michigan has nine former players in the NBA to start the season, including two rookies in Caleb Houstan (Orlando Magic) and Moussa Diabate (Los Angeles Clippers).
Thursday marked four years to the day from Michigan’s thrilling win over Michigan State in East Lansing, 21-7. The game included a 79-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Shea Patterson to wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Quote Of The Day
“He just does all the things that you want to put in the mixing pot and make the win cookie with. He does everything necessary to win.”
South Kent (Conn.) School head coach Raphael Chillious on new Michigan commit Papa Kante
Headlines Of The Day
• Chris Balas, The Wolverine: Top-35 2023 prospect Papa Kante commits to Michigan
• EJ Holland, The Wolverine: Five final takeaways from Michigan’s big recruiting weekend
