Michigan basketball program expected to sign 2 guards in the early signing period
Trey Burke turns 18 years old Friday. On his last day as a minor, he’ll complete one of the biggest decisions of his life.
Burke is one of two players expected to sign with the Michigan basketball program on Thursday, the second day of the early college basketball signing period.
“I’m real glad. It was a stressful process, came down between Michigan and Cincinnati, and it was one of the hardest decisions I ever made in my life,” Burke said Wednesday.
“But at the end of the day, Michigan was just the best choice for me and I’m glad I’m signing and getting it over with.”
He’ll officially sign with Michigan at Northland High School in Columbus at 7 p.m. Guard Carlton Brundidge, of Southfield, also is expected to sign with Michigan.
Burke is a 6-foot-1 point guard who can score - and who has played with high-caliber players his entire life. His former teammate at Northland is Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger, last year’s National High School Player of the Year. Playing with Sullinger last year, Burke averaged 14.5 points and 7.5 assists, according to MaxPreps.com.
“There’s no question the dude can put the ball in the basket,” Scout.com national recruiting analyst Evan Daniels said of Burke. “I’d say he’d be one of the better scorers to enter the Big Ten next year.”
He’ll have company.
Brundidge has been verbally committed to the Wolverines for a while. Scout.com rates the 6-foot-1, 200-pound guard as the No. 21 shooting guard in the Class of 2011.
“He can really score,” Daniels said. “And he can do it in a variety of ways.”
Michigan isn’t done. The Wolverines had Country Day forward Amir Williams on campus during the Illinois football weekend and remain one of five schools in the running for the 6-foot-9 center who is ranked as the No. 2 player at his position by Scout.com.
But Michigan went out and already took care of securing future depth in its class as guards Zack Novak and Stu Douglass will be seniors next season and Darius Morris will be a junior.
“It’s trying to fill some needs and they are not done,” Daniels said. “They are still working on Amir Williams, and I think they are really focused on getting a pair of guards and they went out and got solid ones.”
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
2sweetblue
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 : 6:33 p.m.
Rich I am responding to your answer. For you to use the word "blantly false" is incorrect. The guidlines are in favor of certain posters. I have complained numerous times and I get no response. I was told they were going to watch more carefully and I still see it always. So please use your words more carefully it is "Blantly true"
Teebob
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 11:01 p.m.
Two solid recruits for the Wolverines. Need a big guy now. Go Blue. And, I think Stefanie Murray does an excellent job throwing out the stuff that doesn't pertain to the article and she does a nice job telling us why. She is very professional about it. And I agree with Rich Rezler in the fact that they don't care which team you root for, just do it with some class. For example, never put just the words "Go Blue" as a comment because they will remove since it does not pertain to the article. And that would definitely be a post for the maize and blue. I should know, I had my "go blue" post removed in the past.
Matt
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 8:18 p.m.
Michigan Basketball as the "Sleeping Giant" and the balance of power will shift back to Michigan are two of the funniest things I have heard in a long time. On a side note. All UM related articles appear on Mlive as do MSU articles. The problem being is that MSU fans can't say boo on these forums or their comments will be taken off while UM fans have a field day on the Mlive articles related to anything MSU.
InsideTheHall
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 7:27 p.m.
M needs polar bears not more guards! They barely outrebounded Sagnasty Valley!
81wolverine
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 7:02 p.m.
It's good to get some good quality guards. But Michigan must start signing some athletic inside players - fast. Until we do, we'll be a one-dimensional team that depends on the outside shot to win. We've seen the past few years that isn't good enough. Getting Amir Williams is a HUGE priority for Beilein. Promise him a starting job, great locker, whatever it takes (within the rules of course). Beilein must prove he can recruit good players to be successful long-term in the Big Ten. So far, he hasn't done that.
2sweetblue
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 6:56 p.m.
OK let me explain like I am dealing with elementary schools students. Really good basketball players want to win and play on National TV. They want to play for a coach that can get to final Fours. They want to win championships. They don't want to be sitting home watching the tournament they want to participate. They don't care if maize and blue are pretty they want to play for a hall of fame coach. Sorry kids Izzo will always own the State of Michigan. Anyways JB like to go find that diamond in the rough shooter who probably would have trouble finding minutes at Grand Valley. You can't use the fab five forever it's time to move on and recruit tough Big Ten players