Class of 2011 6-foot guard Carlton Brundidge verbally committed to Michigan this morning. Brundidge is a scoring guard from Southfield, Michigan who has the size of a point guard with the game and mentality of a shooting guard. Michigan had long been considered the leader in Brundidge’s recruitment but he finally pulled the trigger early this morning.
Brundidge is Beilein’s first commitment of the class of 2011 and is a consensus top 100 recruit. Brundidge ranks 98th on Rivals, 68th on Scout and 33rd on ESPN. Carlton is one of the top juniors in the state of Michigan as well, ranking as high or higher as Tommie McCune, Patrick Lucas-Perry, Amir Williams, Brandan Kearney, and others. While some like Brandan Kearney may have more potential, it is hard to argue with Brundidge’s production.
Brundidge’s recruitment came down to Michigan, Michigan State, Miami, and Syracuse. Michigan probably had some advantage to begin thanks to family ties to U-M but this is definitely John Beilein’s first major in-state recruiting victory.
Video:
More Video:
Despite his smaller stature, Brundidge has consistently produced throughout his highschool (Southfield) and AAU (The Family) careers. The highlight of Brundidge’s summer was the Peach Jam, where he led the Family to a championship.
That offensive game was on display in July at the Nike Peach Jam where Brundidge led The Family U-16 squad to the championship, beating the All-Ohio Red 16’s in the finale. Brundidge was nearly unstoppable in a semifinal win over Boo Williams with 36 points and he added 25 more in the finale.
Brundidge is a power guard who thrives taking the ball to the hoop and creating for himself. His three point jump shot is streaky and a bit funky but he can score in bunches. He is a high energy guy who is often mentioned in scouting reports for being active on the glass despite his short height. He should be a solid complement to the array of shooters that Michigan will already have on the roster. ESPN had a chance to see Brundidge in action at the Peach Jam as well:
Brundadge slashed and shot his way to 27 big points in the 16U final at the Peach Jam. Brundadge knifed through the All-Ohio defense to score the basketball on strong drives. He is a capable shooter from long range, but he is at his best punishing opponents on his way to the basket. He shows relentless energy and has an intense competitiveness about him. He is at his best in the big games when his team needs a big shot or play. When he gets a head of steam with the ball in his hands, the defense gets out of his way, he was able to get a lot done by sprinting the wing hard in transition. He plays with relentless energy and passion, and refuses to be denied when he wants to score, even gathering his own misses for stickbacks. Brundadge continued to make plays on both ends of the floor even in a stretch during the first half when his shot was not falling.
Sam Webb wrote a lengthy profile in the Detroit News last winter that detailed Carlton Brundidge’s early career and how he burst onto the radar. Brundidge “played up” with the older Family teams early in his career and he didn’t disappoint:
“I just remember they were playing a team called the Birmingham Storm,” Mr. Brundidge said. “(The Family) was down by 15 points in the second half and Carlton wasn’t playing. All of a sudden (Coach Walker) put him in and the team started coming back. We beat them. Coach Beilein was there and Coach Izzo was sitting there too.”
Brundidge also posted big numbers at the Spiece tournament in Indianapolis where Brian Snow (Rivals) came away impressed:
While Williams was the biggest factor on defense, it was Carlton Brundidge that got it done for The Family on the offensive end. The scoring dynamo proved once again that when he is in attack mode very few players can defend him. In the second half of the game alone, Brundidge was near 20 points and simply had moments of dominance.
So Michigan gets a scoring guard to open up their class of 2011 and the numbers start to become very interesting. There is now two remaining scholarships for the class of 2010 and 2011 combined. If Manny Harris goes pro early, both scholarships could be used in the class of 2010 but the likely plan (assuming Zeigler and Prather don’t commit) is to use one more in 2010 and one more in 2011. Scholarship breakdown (now with a color coded chart) lives here.
Trey Zeigler and Casey Prather are obviously the priorities for the class of 2010 but in 2011 I think Michigan will look to land a big man. Some options for 2011 big guys include Brundidge’s AAU teammate Amir Williams, Marshall Plumlee, Justin Gant, or Trey McDonald. It is always possible that Zeigler and Prather both head other directions or someone else leaves the program which would of course open the door for two 2011 recruits.
Big Big pickup.. gotta hand it to Coach Beilein because Brundidge may very well be the top player in the state in a very strong 2011 class. You combine Brundidge with Prather or Zeigler this year and some combination of Kearney/Amir Williams/Percy Gibson/whoever else next year and Michigan has a strong foundation with many elite players to take Michigan to the top. Go Blue!
Carlton – great decision! Welcome to the Michigan basketball family!
looks like Kearney might be the odd man out, unless we miss both Prather and Zeigler.
Remember JB grabbing two unknown commits out of Indiana and the rumblings…… Great pickup.
In that video he doesn’t get much elevation on his 3-point shot. Is that still an issue? I’m sure it’s something Beilein can work on with him anyway.
I’m not complaining, by the way. Great pickup, congrats to Carlton.
His game is VERY similar (powerful, fluid, semi-set/push shot) to Lawrence Moten from Syracuse back in the day. He is the all-time leading scorer in Syracuse history. Check out the desciption of his game.
http://www.orangehoops.org/LMoten.htm
WOW, if Kearney decides the next, will the door shut for Prather and Zeigler. It is clear that we need sign a big for 2011.
Except he’s not quite 6-foot-5 Tom, too.
Brundidge kind of reminds me of Sherrod Collins.. a little pit bull guard who can impose his will on the defender
Ahh, that is right….good point. I think a lot of people from Upstate NY that have followed JB since his NY days will agree with the comparison, though.
And I’m really curious to see where this leaves Brandan Kearney if Prather or Zeigler commit.. I know we will want a big man, so is there anywhere Beilein can manufacture a scholarship for him if he wants to come?
How about a less fat Khalid El-Amin as a comparison?
Nice…that’s right. We talked about that one before…
I agree James. He doesn’t get much elevation, but he compensates with a very quick release. A few years with Beilein, however, will no doubt correct or help any flaws he has.
Beilein needs to focus on Amir Williams, I don’t think we are getting Plumlee (although that would be awesome). Let the wing players, kearney, Zeigler, Prather play itself out, but focus on the big men. No one we have right now besides Sims is going to be more than a role player.
Welcome Carlton! It’s great to have you as part of the family!!
this is quite the surprise but one of the better ones in recent um basketball………great start to things
Yeah, there are a lot of kids on the board for only two scholarships in 2010/2011 combined:
Ziegler
Prather
P. Lucas-Perry
Kearney
Amir Williams
Plumlee
It will be especially interesting to see how CB’s commitment affects Brandon Kearney, who almost committed to M earlier this summer.
Great news, but for those of you who are little older on this list…a bullish, stocky, strong upper body, go to the hoop, clutch shot when you need it guy sounds an awful lot like……Rumueal Robinson
Gary Parrish blog says a 2010 wing from FLA is choosing between UF and South Carolina this week. Wonder what a UF commit would mean to Casey.
http://gary-parrish.blogs.cbss.....4/17281085
KurtD: If you are talking about Poole — it says UK or South Carolina.
Great player, great kid, great news. i think he’ll add a new dynamic to the offense and be a great weapon to add at the guard spot. it’s also nice to see beilein land a top in-state recruit (not that i doubt his recruiting, ha). i love the direction our program is headed. imagine prather/zeigler/kearney and a great big guy to fill the other two spots…wow.
welcome aboard cb.
David, I think it’s pretty safe to say that with Brundidge’s commitment as a point guard that PLP is off the board. He hasn’t been offered, I believe, and with CB’s commitment I don’t think he will be. Needs: 1 wing, 1 big.
Though Kearney was reported to be a huge Meech lean earlier this summer, his recruitment has since opened up big time. It’s now between MSU, UM and OSU, all reportedly on equal footing. Prather has stated that he would like to commit this fall (october, I believe), and Zeigler has had a well-documented spring timetable for his decision (he has mentioned seeing if Manny leaves as a factor in this relatively late commitment date). Kearney, who knows.
Either way, CB’s commitment puts some pressure on these wings to commit due to the shortage of schollies. All have professed interest in Michigan, so it will be interesting to watch what happens with these wings. All of these guys are athletic 4-star types with great potential, so I’d be happy with any of the three. If we get none, there are plenty of other great prospects out there who have love for Michigan as this program continues to rise. Beilein can’t recruit? Bogus.
CB seemed to be our most consistent visitor at games last year (besides Jordan Morgan maybe), so I always had a pretty good feeling he would end up Blue.
I’m hoping we fill the 2 open schollies with Zeigler/Prather/Kearney and Plumee/Williams/Gant (in that order for both).
It will be Prather in October…
I’m with you Giddings on who I hope we fill the spots with. However, my order on the wings would be Prather/Zeigler/Kearney for the simple fact that I don’t want Zeigler to hold our recruiting hostage until the spring time. I have Zeigler and Prather on equal footing as both are outstanding athletes and good players but Prather is my #1 because he is going to make his decision in the next month or so
Is Quincy Miller even talking about UM or is he just a pipedream?
Would we want both Prather & Zeigler? Can we take both? Do we pull an offer from the table after one of them commits?
I have heard VERY LITTLE about Quincy Miller. I don’t want to get ahead of myself because I think it is a pipedream, but if he were to somehow end up here…
Couldn’t Prather & Zeigler both come. I see a 75% that Manny leaves after this season (Fellow leader and friend Sims leaves, and 1st round draft status). That leaves two open for them both. And still one more for a big man next year (Plumee or Williams). Either way the future keeps looking brighter for Michigan.
Oh a great table on the scholarship breakdown page.
Dylan (or anyone else), how does CB’s fit in on the other end of the court? I’ve heard and read a lot about his obvious scoring/creating abilities. How is he as a defender?
How long until Spartan fans start saying they weren’t really recruiting Brundidge? JB was not supposed to ever be able to get a Michigan recruit they wanted.
CB was the biggest lock that we had on our list of prospects, but I’m very happy to see it pan out. I also like the pressure it puts on others. Hopefully, this will seal the deal on one of the others quickly so we can all breath easier. Good choice, kid!
I agree with Adam– body wise Brundidge reminds me of Kansas PG Sherron Collins. Surprised no one else has commented on the fact CB
impact on recruiting on Detroit– although U-M doesn’t have to recruit Detroit to be competitive, it sure as heck helps to have a pipeline in your back-yard. Brundidge choosing U-M will help with the Amir William’s and Ray Lee’s whom CB is buddies with but it will also help with the hard-core Detroit PSL high school and AAU coaches.
hope prather drops next month and Beilein can focus on the season. CB’s game really compliments the shooters around him.
P Dubya, from what I’ve read/heard CB’s defensive game needs a bit of work. Given his athleticism, I’m sure he will improve greatly on that facet of his game in his two remaining years in high school as well as under Beilein.
In terms of a Prather/Zeigler duo, Zeigler has actually commented on this possibility during his visit for the ND game when he got to hang out a bit with Prather. He said that if Manny goes pro (thus freeing up a scholly, and TZ will know whether this occurs by his spring commitment timetable), he could see himself and Prather playing together. I, for one, think it is highly unlikely. But hey, as Sam Webb says, anything can happen in recruiting.
Right now, the situation looks very appealing for any wing looking to commit to Michigan. We have a strong foundation of talented players committed to U of M for this year and the next, with a good mixture of youth and experience. We will have an obvious need for a scorer at the wing once Manny leaves.
With such a variety of ways we can score, we will be a terrifying team to face; now, and especially in the coming years.
Greg– I think we’re being way too optimistic. Zeigler said they “could”, not should or would still play together. What scares me is Zeigler visiting Oklahoma with Ray McCallum and both of those young men still have UCLA on their respective lists and the Bruins could use both.
Bluebufoon? You do know Southfield isnt in the PSL don’t yeah? lol.
I think it could help with Williams but I don’t see the PSL connection.
Great pick up, I hope we get prather or Zeigler or Both…. with the one scholly left in 2011 I can see us taking Kearney, I don’t feel we need to waste a scholly on a big man because we have enough on the roster now to help until 2012 class. If kearney wants to commit there not going to say NO…. we have Cronin 7-1(who knows how good he will be) Jordan Morgan 6-9, Blake McLimans 6-11, Evan Smotycz from 2010, 6-9, we have some size, We don’t need a amazing player at the center position when we have so much talent on the wings. We just need some to play defense and rebound
I 100% expect Manny Harris to go pro after this season. We have high expectations and Manny will be the catalyst. Another strong season (Sweet 16 or above) and I can’t even fathom Manny returning for his senior season, especially since he and Peedi are so close. Keep this in mind cause it may allow us to bring Williams or Gibson in for 2011 as well.
Just to be clear. Harris going pro WILL NOT effect the class of 2011 at all. It would allow us to take more in 2010, but those still count against the class of 2011.
http://www.umhoops.com/scholarshipbreakdown/
Regardless of whether Manny goes pro, we only have two left over the next two years. I highly doubt we will take Zeigler and Prather and have a one man 2011 class. I really think it’s Zeigler or Prather and a 2011 big man. If we miss on both 2010 kids we end up with a three man 2011 class of Brundidge, a big, and another wing.
Brick: you don’t turn down Prather or Zeigler. Period.
Dylan is 100% correct…both of them want to come, those schollies are theirs…no question in my mind
Anyone know what CB shot from 3pt last year? The big knock on him seems to be shooting, and while his form isn’t great, just curious if he makes them or not.
Dylan, I’ve made this mistake before (with the Manny leaving an having an extra scholarship to give). I guess I just really don’t understand HOW we wouldn’t have an extra scholarship if Manny leaves.
My thought process is that:
(1) We have 1 scholarship in 2010 & 1 in 2011 to give (right now)
(2) Manny Harris goes pro, vacating his scholarship.
(3) We now have 1 scholarship in 2010 & 2 in 2011 to give.
Where/how am I wrong?
Is it the 5/8 rule? or Manny leaving before his senior year opens up a scholarship for ONLY 1 year (i.e. his senior year).
In a dream world I would want Ziegler/Prather in 2010, Brundidge, Kearney, Williams/Gibson in 2011. Maybe I’m just trying to convince myself this is possible.
Jimmy: the issue is that manny and ant would be seniors when the 2010 class arrives. Manny going pro would give us an extra scholarship for that year. However in 2011 he will be gone no matter what.
Hope that makes sense. Sorry for poor capitalization and grammar, typing on my phone.
I don’t see UM taking both Zeigler and Prather. Heck i’m not even confident we get one of them. Beilein is known to have a lot of attrition at his schools so I have a hard time with predicting how many ships UM will have in ’11. So yeah UM could probably take both if Attrition happens but i don’t see that. Honestly i would not be shocked if say UM doesnt get either Zeigler or Prather and they put the full court press on Williams as well as Kearney. Then everybodys happy. The people who feel you need to take a Big get there big and you still get Kearney.
I love Brundidge as a player. It will be interesting how successful he is at the next level. Can he bring his reckless abandon style to the big ten as far as getting in the paint whenever he want’s, If he can watch out. But Manny has 6 inches on Brundidge at the least.
Will– CB plays for The Family, which is a Detroit based (Nike funded) club and has for years. Speedi Walker runs that club and The Family is recognized locally and throughout the state as Detroit’s top- team and hard-core Detroit area coaches, specifically those in the PSL will have no problem celebrating the fact the Coach Beilein gained his first commitment from a big-time Detroit (area) based player in Carlton Brundidge. This commitment make a lot of Detroit area folks ecstatic !!!
once you have the ability to get into the paint, which is his best attrtibute the ability isnt going to go away, its only going to get better……..every report is that he dominates people in the lane, its going to happen in any league against any team
You guys got a great player. Congrats. That said, it’s true, most MSU fans will still insist that PLP is Plan A at PG and that they’re not sold on CB on the wing. The streak of MSU not losing a basketball plan A to UM still goes back to Sims. You can break it hands down with Zeigler.
But really, UM will be very good. You’re probably going to get one of Zeigler, Prather (my guess), and Kearney. If you pull a miracle and get Zeigler in the late period, more power. The in-state rivalry will be good for years.
Am I the only one who DOESN’T WANT MANNY TO GO PRO? There is such a fixation on youth, recruiting, and “potential” that we are missing the main story which is that we have a rare gem of a player here in Manny Harris, and, quite frankly, we would be extraordinary fortunate if any one of these recruits turns out to be as good as him. I think sometimes in our culture we get so fixed on youth (what we don’t have, don’t know, and can idealize) that we lose sight of appreciating what we do have. We have an All-American player in Manny Harris, and we should all root for him to stick around for his senior year rather than pining for an extra recruit.
I don’t think anyone is hoping that Manny goes pro. Just realizing the chance of him going pro is very high, evident from his comments about following DeShawn Sims.
I think it’s much more people planning how to deal with a likely reality than rooting for him to go pro.
ESPN ranks Michigan’s 2010 recruiting class #14
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/.....mp;rank=14
and that is without Prather or Zeigler.. the ranking will only go up if Coach Beilein can land one of those 2 guys. The future of Michigan basketball looks bright!
I think if we land Prather, we’d easily shoot up to top 10. If we get TZ in the spring, we’s shoot up to top 5 or so. Not bad for a guy who can’t recruit.
Because info on CPrather has been so hard to come by… Here’s a link to one of his AAU coach’s twitter pages. He posted several tweets tonight after texting w/ CP’s stepdad. Pretty much status quo, no leader at this point.
http://twitter.com/charlesclark34
I must be one of the only ones who doesn’t think Manny is going pro after this year. He is not projected to go anywhere near the lottery and most scouts have him as a second round pick. I really don’t see him coming out unless he shoots up the draft boards into the lottery.
Since when has Beilein been known for attrition? I have never heard this one before. Everyone loses players when they take over a program but has he lost a bunch of kids he recruited?
I understand that Zeigler and Prather are both great talents but I just wouldn’t be surprised if we start pushing for a 2011 big man if we land Prather in the fall.
Dylan, this seems to be a meme that Brian has proposed over at MGo, but what do you think the chances are that Ant doesn’t get his 5th year? I honestly don’t see Beilein not giving him his 5th year, but there is the possibility that he gives him a function with the team that allows him to stay in school but opens up his scholarship for other usage.
I think Beilein is to character of a guy to ask that of Ant, but you never know.
Brick – I think that the projections of Manny being a second round pick go back to last season. If he puts up numbers this year like he did this year we could see him sneak into the first round. You are right, probably not a lottery pick, but I think if he is a first round lock he goes.
Manny’s biggest problems are his lack of size and his shooting touch. He is basically a wing stuck in a NBA SG body. He is a back up wing player at the next level so I am holding out hope that he doesn’t warrant a first round pick. NBAdraft.net doesn’t even have him in the draft at all but that doesn’t surprise me since that draft changes all the time after people announce they are leaving early, however it does take into account underclassmen.
This is hard to say but if it meant we landed Trey Z, it would actually benefit the program if he left. I know this is going to stir up some emotion…..
That attrition comment stuck out for me too. If anything, he gets a transfer IN every two years or so. The two that come to mind are Gansey and Do’r Fisher while at WV. I am thinking he might have lost one or two to transferring while at WV, but what D-1 program doesn’t?
Did the comment come from the high attrition rate when he first arrived at AA?
Re: not asking Ant back for a 5th year, I would expect that crap to happen with Calipari or Pitino but not someone like JB. Anybody who’s been a collegiate athlete or has been close to a collegiate athlete at a big time school knows that these kids are putting their LIVES into the athletic programs without any pay besides a scholarship (which is a big deal of course, but still). It’s almost beyond a full-time job… or, if you’re Michael Rosenberg, it’s WAY beyond a full-time job.
If a kid wants a 5th year on the team, the only possible reason to deny him is if his work ethic hasn’t been up to expectations (basically saying that his work level doesn’t deserve a scholarship). But from everything I’ve heard of Ant he certainly does not fall into that category.
I agree, and have said this before: JB will not deny Ant a fifth year if Ant has been a good teammate and student. Others would do this, as sited above, but JB would not.
Good to hear, with regards to Ant, that it doesn’t seem like he’ll be asked to step aside for someone else to take his scholarship. JB is a classy guy so I figured it would be a non issue with him at the helm.
Manny has played some point guard for Michigan. I think he was okay at it. He is versatile enough to play the two guard in the NBA. His biggest problem is his outside shot, and his lack of a secondary move (and necessary handle) after an initial drive. I hope he develops that–and his defense.
Anybody see that new scout article with CB’s dad? He supposidly really get’s on Izzo for not recruiting his son very hard. Anybody know what thats about?
Manny needs to hit the weight room and get some bulk. Those NBA guys are men.
I don’t think it would necessarily be wrong of Beilein to ask Ant to give up his fifth year. By all accounts, Ant is academically gifted and probably will be graduating on time. Pro basketball is unlikely to be in his future so does it really make sense for him to be sticking around for an extra year–or should he head out into the workforce or go to grad school? If he stays at UM for grad school he can be a grad assistant for the team.
Anyway, my point is that sticking around for a whole year with bball may not be the optimal decision from Ant’s perspective anyway. In football, you only stay around for the fall semester, so it’s a different consideration.
I agree with KJay and believe that Ant can contribute his fifth year as a veteran players.
But, the whole discussion of Ant not giving the fifth year should’ve ended effectively as soon as Grady opted to play football, which BTW is a good decision for him. Unless Manny stays his fourth year and Beilein takes two more in year 2010, there is absolutely no need to not having Ant back, period.
and for people wants to have both Prather and Zeigler, you guys are way too greedy, and we do need a post player in year 2011, even in year 2010, depend on how Cronin pans out.
Players don’t “give up” their fifth year. Players take scholorships with an understanding that they are for four years. They may be asked back for a fifth but it’s not a given. There is nothing wrong with not bringing back a bench player for a fifth year if you have a high level recruit to give the spot to. Players know this and can schedule their class loads accordingly to finish in four years.
Exactly the case, Brick.