Michigan Basketball 2020 Newcomers: The Recruits
Michigan’s newcomers will have an excellent opportunity to get playing time; there’s no doubt about that. Due to the departures from the program, some questions still need to be answered regarding how the Wolverine’s depth/rotations will ultimately shake out.
Hunter Dickinson
Dickinson is a 7’2″ center from Maryland who played for the storied DeMatha Catholic program. He is the highest-rated player in Michigan’s incoming class and is rated the second-highest 2020 prospect in the state of Maryland.
In his senior year, Dickinson led DeMatha to WCAC regular season and tournament championships while putting up 17.7 points and 10 rebounds a game. His efforts earned him Maryland’s MaxPreps Player of the Year. Dickinson is an excellent rebounder with great instincts in the post. He has been praised for his grittiness and high-level decision-making.
He may need to expand his offensive range and skillset to be a more effective option moving forward, but he will challenge senior Austin Davis for the starting center job.
Zeb Jackson
Jackson is a 6’3″ combo guard who hails from Ohio but played his senior year of basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. Despite averaging over 25 points and 7 rebounds per game over three years in Ohio, he took more of a supporting role with a Montverde team that had four top-50 recruits. Scouts really like Jackson’s upside.
He is a good shooter, passer, and capable defender that scores at all three levels. Once he hits the Michigan weight room, he’ll probably be even more dangerous. Zeb Jackson is a cousin of Zavier Simpson and will look to grow into a similar role as a lead guard for the Wolverines. He probably won’t see big minutes right away, but he certainly has the potential to be an impactful player.
Terrance Williams II
Williams is a 6’6″ forward who attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. He was an AAU teammate of Hunter Dickinson, as well as his opponent in the WCAC. Gonzaga finished third in the WCAC, but they did take home the District of Columbia State Athletic Association title.
Much of their success was thanks to Williams, the highest-rated 2020 recruit out of the Nation’s Capital. The forward ended his senior year among the top scorers in program history. Williams is a player who won’t start right away with Isaiah Livers still in Ann Arbor, but he projects to be a starter in a year or two.
He is a solid shooter and rebounder who plays with a high motor to make things happen on the floor. Williams’ physical toughness will serve him well in the Big Ten.
Jace Howard
Coach Howard’s son Jace played high school ball at the University School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He is a 6’8″ three-star forward who also garnered offers from Dayton and San Diego State. While technically a recruit, Jace opted to join the Wolverine roster as a walk-on.
He brings high energy, good defense, and reliable shooting to UM. He projects as a “glue guy” who will serve the Wolverines well as long as he is there, although he will likely see limited playing time.