Jamal Cain, Detroit Cornerstone
Today could impact the future of the Michigan basketball program.
Detroit Cornerstone wing Jamal Cain, a rising player in the 2017 class, went to Ann Arbor on an unofficial visit and received a scholarship offer, his mother and his AAU coach confirmed.
In a phone interview this week, Cain said the Wolverines’ interest has intensified in the past two to three weeks.
He was building relationships with U-M’s departed assistants, including Bacari Alexander, but U-M coach John Beilein is now dealing with him personally and he said that’s a strong relationship.
Xavier and Marquette are the other schools that have closely followed Cain, a three-star prospect on 247Sports, but he has yet to set up a visit to either one. He also has an offer from Florida State.
Beilein has a history of only offering scholarships to players when they visit campus and Beilein repeatedly watched Cain play in the April evaluation period.
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Michigan is appealing to Cain because “they’re a big school and they win and they put good players in the league,” Cain said.
The goal of his visit is to see “the academics, how the campus is and how everything works.”
At 6-foot-6, 177 pounds, Cain was a Free Press Class C all-state player last season, averaging 26 points, 15.7 rebounds, four assists and two blocks per game last season and continued to stand out this spring in the two AAU showcases the past two weekends.
Playing in Brooklyn for the Detroit-based The Family AAU team two weeks ago, then Indianapolis last weekend, Cain showed his versatile game, they type that he compares to former Wolverine Tim Hardaway Jr.
“I’m good at running the floor, finishing at the basket, creating my own shot and knocking down wide open shots,” he said.
While he’s eager to rebound in high school, having the ability to shoot the three also makes him appealing to Beilein’s offense as a small forward.
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The recruiting process may intensify but he said he loves going through it and was impressed the big-time coaches took the time to watch the AAU games.
His Michigan visit is appealing but he said it is “going to be a little while” before he makes a decision.
U-M currently has one 2017 commitment, Milwaukee guard Jordan Poole, who was playing at the same Nike EYBL events as Cain’s team.
Michigan will have at least two scholarships in 2017 with Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton Jr. graduating and possibly more with Mark Donnal not promised a fifth year and a current open scholarship currently unfilled for the 2016-17 season.
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