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• Brandan Kearney played very well with Team Detroit at the Hoosier Shootout. Kearney hit a buzzer beating three point shot and foul to send Team Detroit’s semi-final game into overtime but they eventually fell in double overtime. Kearney impressed Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State coaches who were there. He impressed Ohio State so much that Thad Matta officially offered him a scholarship.
• Speaking of Kearney, both he and Percy Gibson received offers from Michigan State last week when they visited East Lansing.
• Spencer Turner is putting on a shooting clinic, the 6-foot-3 guard knocked down 8 triples en route to a 28 point game at the Kentucky HoopFest. According to Jody Demling, Turner said he is hearing most from Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan and noted his “relationship with Indiana is growing.”
• The Nate Lubick decommitment story is a wild one. Click here for the latest report from NBE. At this point it’s hard to believe that Lubick isn’t going to decommit at some point because these things typically come from somewhere.
• This is old news now but Roy Marble Jr. will play his college ball at Iowa.
• The Reebok All-American Camp and Kentucky HoopFest will continue this weekend before the Peach Jam kicks off Sunday in Georgia. The 2011 hot board will be posted this weekend as well, so check in for that.

According Scout.com’s Evan Daniels (via his Twitter feed), Nate Lubick might not have opened his recruitment up after all:

There have been reports surfacing that Nate Lubick will open up his recruitment. He said, “That isn’t true.”

What gives? I would assume there will be more fall out from this, but at this point a quote from Lubick is pretty firm evidence that Nate is still committed at this point. But “that isn’t true” isn’t quite “I’m still firmly committed to Georgetown”. I wouldn’t be surprised if something more came of this.

Nate Lubick has reportedly decommitted from Georgetown. NBE Basketball’s source thinks that Notre Dame is a likely destination.

I don’t expect Michigan to jump back into this recruitment but this is newsworthy none-the-less. As we all know, Nate Lubick was one of the top targets on Michigan’s recruiting board for a long time before his recruitment fizzled and he committed to Georgetown. With Evan Smotrycz in the fold and only one scholarship to give, I’m just not sure how much sense it makes for Michigan to pursue Lubick once again. I’m sure we will find out shortly as more news breaks.

In a related note, it’s pretty remarkable how far the Michigan basketball landscape has shifted since Lubick committed to Georgetown on October 7th, 2008. Recruits (Lubick and Byrd) were choosing other schools because Michigan hadn’t “proven” they could win. Matt Vogrich and Darius Morris had confidence and joined the party but Michigan was still coming off of a 22 loss season. 21 wins and a few commitments later, the picture looks lightyears better from top to bottom.

• Indiana’s Byrd likes MSU, but U-M is a sleeper
  Another three point bomber, Jamil Wilson could be a complicating factor in regards to MSU/Byrd and moved up his announcement.
• Lubick Not Worried About Race Issue
  This is an interesting angle of Nate’s recruitment that I hadn’t read about.
• Kids Today, Part V
  Big Ten Geeks take a look at what to expect from freshman.
• Simons says yes to MVC
  But he had Beilein written all over him…
• Byrd Has Blast in Ann Arbor ($)
  More from Webb on Byrd, this one premium.
• Big 10 Conference: Top NBA Prospects
  Manny checks in at #3 behind Mullens and Raymar.
• Surprises may be in store in Coaches vs. Cancer
  Don’t overlook Northeastern
• Andy Katz also says to watch out for Northeastern
• Virus breaks out on G’town campus
  Blame Lubick

There were positive vibes on Nate Lubick’s recruitment since Elite Camp this summer, there were articles about Nate recruiting other kids to Michigan, yet he never pulled the trigger. Something must have happened during his recent visit that didn’t make it into the reports of how much he enjoyed his time. But for whatever reason he decided he wasn’t a good fit. Lubick is going to be a big time player, and he could have been a statement recruiting for Beilein’s 2010 class.

Of course losing one recruit isn’t going to ruin the future of the program but acting like it is insignificant is not the right way either. This hurts and there is no way to slice it that will make it any better, it’s time to move on. This is why you take a guy like Robin Benzing when you can (even though it didn’t work out) even when there may be bigger possibilities on the horizon.

In 2009, Angus Brandt goes from a luxury to the number one priority. We need big men and we need them as soon as possible. Brandt’s recruitment is no gimmie and Beilein needs to put the full court press on. Luckily Brandt’s recruitment is just getting underway and Michigan should have a chance at least. There is playing time available in Ann Arbor for Angus and Beilein needs to let him know that. In regards to Will Barrett, I don’t know where his recruitment is at right now. Barrett would have been a good backup for Lubick, but he’s not really a replacement. I think the priority has to be Brandt over Barrett for the last spot in 2009 after losing Lubick even if that means risking going 0 for 2.

I just got an e-mail about one other name to watch: Blake McLimans, 6′9″ class of 09 big man from Worcester Academy (MA) who Beilein was reportedly taking a look at last weekend (his school is about 30minutes from Lubick’s).  McLimans has a similar style of play to Lubick and also is a baseball prospect (mid-upper 90s fastball). As far as his recruitment, he hasn’t played AAU ball (because of baseball) so he is under the radar. Siena has offered, while schools like Providence, PSU and BC are showing interest. Don’t know much more, but worth keeping an eye on.

In regards to the class of 2010, there is still time to cast a wider net and get in on some more kids. Alex Gauna is one possibility but the word on him is that he is Michigan State’s to lose.  Most of the highly regarded targets in the 2010 class have been guards and wings like Trey Zeigler (SG) and Russell Byrd (Wing). Byrd is closing in on a decision and Zeigler has a ways to go in his recruitment. These kids would be statement recruits but wouldn’t mask the fact that after Gibson there are two big men on the roster both 3 stars and one of whom is hobbled with hip problems. (A commenter (bluebufoon) points out Evan Smotrycz is another one to watch)

The best news I can think of at this point is that Beilein has been working his tail off on the recruiting trail and casting a wide net. There is plenty of talent out there in 2010 and I would expect to see a lot of new names popping up on the radar over the next few weeks and months as Beilein turns up the heat.

What a week it has been though Matt Vogrich goes from a long shot to a commitment and Lubick goes from a Michigan lean to a Georgetown verbal. Honestly, I’m ready to see this year’s team just play basketball.

Extra: Sam Webb podcast on Lubick and other hoops recruiting.