Hoops recruiting: Several updates

Michigan coaches continue to recruit the class of 2014 heavily, while there are also a few '13s on the radar. They're also keeping their eyes on 2015 prospects. Here are several basketball recruiting tidbits …

Class of 2013

As reported recently, Zak Irvin visited recently and ran some open gym with the team. The 6-6 standout out of Fishers (Ind.) Hamilton Southeastern is now Rivals.com's No. 68 rising senior and one of the top players in his state.

For a newly released highlight video of Irvin in action, compliments of PrepHoopsTV, see below:

Class of 2013 camper Vitto Brown of Bowling Green, Ohio (and Spiece Indy Heat teammate of recent offeree Trevon Bluiett of Fort Wayne, Ind.) visited recently, and he's one of few remaining on the '13 watch list. Though the 6-7 three-star doesn't appear to be as big a priority as 6-8 four-star Reggie Cameron of Paterson (N.J.) Hudson Catholic (No. 91 nationally), he is interested in Michigan and has picked up offers from Minnesota and Wisconsin.

"Vitto had a really good spring for us," Spiece Indy Head Coach Reynardo Blueitt said recently. "Vitto has been very efficient playing with high volume scorers and shooters. He has been able to get double-digit point production in games with not a lot of looks. He's shooting at a high rate right now.

"Vitto is very strong, he's a strong rebounder, he shoots a high rate from the field, he blocks and alters shots and he can step out and play some three than go in and rebound at the four. He's a versatile guy."

Cameron, meanwhile, insists he still plans to visit U-M before deciding.

One more '13 note: Gladstone (N.J.) point guard Jaren Sina, now a three-star (down from four), never became a serious U-M target, but he was on the radar. He recently committed to Northwestern.

Class of 2014

There's been plenty of news on Normal (Ill.) University standout wing Keita Bates-Diop recently. The lanky, 6-7 scorer recently enjoyed an outstanding performance at the Purdue team camp, our GoldandBlack.com colleagues shared, and appears to be blossoming into a priority for the Boilermakers. He scored in the post, hit jump shots and knocked down the game winning triple at the buzzer in a 57-54 win over Brownsburg.

The Journal-Courier noted Purdue's school of engineering is one of the reasons the Boilers are so high on Bates-Diop's list, though several have noted Michigan and Illinois - the other two schools high on his list - also have esteemed engineering programs.

Bates-Diop averaged 15 points and five rebounds last year.

"I have a very high interest in Purdue," he told the Courier. "I'm keeping my options open, but they are up there. I like the way they play. They always play hard. I like their facilities, and I like the coaching staff.

"It's definitely important to have a strong connection with the coach. If you don't, you're not going to be able to play well."

Bates-Diop received his U-M offer at the team camp, where he enjoyed an outstanding visit. He "showed off the full arsenal and looked stronger than he did a couple weeks ago" at the Purdue camp, GoldandBlack.com reported.

"If I feel right with the school, I will [commit]," Bates-Diop said. "I won't wait around. But I want to think about it for a while. I just don't know if that will be sooner or later."

In other '14 news, Moss Point (Miss.) shooting guard offeree Devin Booker (6-4, No. 31 junior nationally) was one of the top players at the June Elite 100 Camp in St. Louis.

"The 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Moss Point (Miss.) High backed up his status as the No. 31 player in the class of 2014," Rivals.com's Eric Bossi wrote. "Booker has deep range with his shot and is highly advanced in terms of movement without the ball and using little fakes to generate space."

Booker also reportedly impressed at the recent Durant Skills Academy, ESPN.com's Reggie Rankin reported.

"Booker gets your attention right away with his size and shooting range to the arc off the catch or dribble," he wrote. "He plays with energy and urgency, and is in the process of building his game. He is working to fine-tune his ball handling, as well as become a better rebounder and on-ball defender, at which he is very capable of excelling.

"Booker has all the makings to be a complete wing with continued development. Missouri, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Alabama, Georgetown, Florida, Harvard and Stanford have Booker on their radar."

As reported, Booker also recently received his Michigan offer recently, at which point he named the Wolverines his strong frontrunner.

As we also reported recently, U-M coaches extended their third offer to date to Indianapolis Park Tudor's Trevon Bluiett (6-5 SF, Rivals.com's No. 47 rising junior nationally). Bluiett is very high on Indiana, but his Michigan trip gave him something to think about, his father told us after the visit. See below for recent film on Bluiett.

On other '14s hoping for offers, we recently caught up with Detroit Crockett's (now East English Village Academy's) Marqywell Jackson (6-4, 180, No. 48). Michigan coaches also hosted Jackson at their camp, and he was impressive. For the write-up, click here: Jackson.

Finishing with a few other '14 notes:

Michigan continues to watch Milwaukee standout forward Kevon Looney (6-8, No. 11 nationally). Looney is receiving North Carolina (and other) interest, and is currently interested in everyone watching him, with no favorites. He boasts a 7-1 wingspan and hopes to play the three at the next level.

Pickerington (Ohio) Central's Jae'sean Tate (6-5, 200) is "in the mix," a three-star prospect and member of freshman point guard Trey Burke's All-Ohio program. He holds offers from Dayton and Xavier but also likes U-M. Purdue, Georgetown and West Virginia are also talking to him, according to this recent article ($): Tate article.

Watch for an ITF EXTRA for some "where they're leaning" talk and more this afternoon …