After the boys basketball season was cut off before the district championships, we’ll be even more eager for the start of the next season than usual. However, it’s never too early to start checking in on the top 2021 basketball recruits in Michigan.
Here is MLive’s first look into the best players the state has to offer. MLive will be checking in with the players moving forward as they navigate their dynamic recruiting trail. This list is capable of growing or shrinking as the months continue.
1. Pierre Brooks II, SG, Detroit Douglass
Height: 6-5
Commitment: Michigan State
Brooks helped elevate Detroit Douglass into a Division 2 contender last year, attracting a lot of attention during his junior season as a four-star recruit. This last winter, Brooks averaged 23.2 points, 7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.7 steals. He announced his commitment to Michigan State on April 22.
MORE: Four-star guard Pierre Brooks II commits to Michigan State as first 2021 pledge
2. Kobe Bufkin, SG, Grand Rapids Christian
Height: 6-4
Offers: 10
Bufkin has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, LSU, VCU, DePaul and others. Last season, the four-star recruit averaged 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists while shooting 65 percent from the floor and 34 percent from 3-point range.
MORE: Grand Rapids Christian’s Kobe Bufkin adds University of Michigan offer
MORE: Junior guard Kobe Bufkin receives first SEC offer
3. Julian Roper, PG, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Height: 6-4
Commitment: Northwestern
Roper had an excellent junior season at St. Mary’s, earning a lot of attention and four-star status along the way. Before committing to Northwestern, he had 10 offers, including Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. Roper averaged 18.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals this last season.
MORE: Committing to Northwestern was ‘right move’ for 2021 St. Mary’s SG Julian Roper
4. Jaden Akins, PG, Farmington
Height: 6-3
Offers: 15
Akins has earned four-star status and currently holds a bucket of offers for his efforts. In the 2019-20 season, he averaged 23 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. He currently has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Xavier and others.
5. Legend Geeter, PF, River Rouge
Height: 6-7
Offers: 7
Geeter has evolved into a special talent for River Rouge, stepping up in his first season as a full-time starter this last winter. He averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks last season. His offers include Detroit, Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan.
6. Julian Lewis, SG, Ann Arbor Huron
Height: 6-6
Offers: 10
Lewis averaged 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists this last season to help Huron climb to near the top of the state rankings. Already considered one of the best defenders in the state, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Toledo are among his 10 offers.
7. Foster Wonders, SF, Iron Mountain
Height: 6-5
Offers: 13
Considered the top talent in the U.P., he already has over a dozen offers, including Oakland, Western Michigan and Central Michigan. Last season, he averaged 27.5 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
8. Omar Zeigler, Jr., PG, Detroit Martin Luther King
Height: 6-5
Offers: 3
Zeigler has been an up-and-coming talent for King for some time now and he had an excellent junior season for King, averaging 17 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and 2.5 steals. He has an offer from Mississippi State, UIC and Morehouse.
9. Brody Parker, G, Troy
Height: 6-0
Commitment: Oakland
One of the top shooters in the state this last winter, Parker averaged 18.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He was scooped up by nearby Oakland back in October.
10. Parker Day, SF, Saginaw Heritage
Height: 6-7
Offers: 5
Day has offers from all in-state teams as Central Michigan, Grand Valley State, Saginaw Valley State, Lake Superior State and Northwood have extended scholarships. This last winter, he averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks per game this season.
11. Thomas Kurowski, SF, Sturgis
Height: 6-4
Offers: None
12. Simon Wheeler III, PG, Ypsilanti Lincoln
Height: 5-8
Offers: 2
13. Blake Lund, G, Linden
Height: 6-1
Offers: None
14. Keyon Menifield, PG, Flint Beecher
Height: 5-9
Offers: None
15. Jayden Nunn, G, Flint Carman-Ainsworth
Height: 6-1
Offers: 2
16. Owen Lobsinger, SF, Flint Powers
Height: 6-5
Offers: None
17. Joshuah Hines, PG, Macomb Dakota
Height: 6-0
Offers: None
18. Basheer Jihad, G/F, North Farmington
Height: 6-5
Offers: 4
19. Ethan Emerzian, G, Troy
Height: 6-0
Offers: None
20. Javier Whitaker, PG, Hamtramck
Height: 5-10
Offers: 1
21. Ethan Erickson, SG, Forest Hills Northern
Height: 6-1
Commitment: Ferris State
22. Gavin Etter, SF, Marcellus
Height: 6-3
Offers: None
23. T.J. Barnes, PG, East Kentwood
Height: 5-9
Offers: 1
24. Javantae Randle, PF, Detroit Fredrick Douglass
Height: 6-9
Offers: 1
25. Keon Henderson, PG, Ypsilanti Lincoln
Height: 6-0
Offers: 1
26. Peter Nwoke, PF, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Height: 6-8
Offers: 1
27. Devin Womack, G, Ann Arbor Huron
Height: 6-2
Offers: None
28. Ke’Ontae Barnes, G, Muskegon Orchard View
Height: 5-11
Offers: 1
29. Colin Weber, G, Hopkins
Height: 6-5
Offers: 1
30. Marcus Wourman, PG, East Lansing
Height: 5-10
Offers: None