Class of 2015 big man Mike Edwards averaged just four points per game as junior at John Glenn, but a summer of hard work, a new coach and improved play on the court has yielded him plenty of options at the next level as his senior season draws to a close.
He’s emerged under new John Glenn coach Rod Watts and is now averaging 22 points and 12 rebounds per game. Edwards has picked up high major offers from Georgia, Kansas State and Nebraska in the last month and has started to hear in earnest from John Beilein, Bacari Alexander and the Michigan coaching staff.
“I want to say around December (they started recruiting me),” Edwards explained during a phone interview on Monday night. “I’ve been talking to coach Beilein and Bacari Alexander. They’re both good, I like them.”
Standing 6-foot-10, 222 pounds, Edwards credits his recent improvement to opportunity and hard work.
“Mainly just getting extra work outs in the summer and getting in the gym a lot more,” Edwards explained. “AAU also helped with that, but we also got a new coach (Rod Watts).
“I’ve definitely improved finishing around the basket, running the floor better and crashing for rebounds better.”
Edwards was on campus in Ann Arbor over the weekend to play with the current Michigan team in an open gym and held his own against Michigan’s current team.
“I actually went up there for an open gym workout (over the weekend),” he said. “I got to play with the team and that went well. I definitely kept up with them so that’s good.”
The senior has already been to Ann Arbor for several visits. He’s been to Ann Arbor for football games, basketball games and Michigan’s College Practice Camp, where he first exploded onto the radar.
“That’s when they started getting really interested in me,” Edwards said. “Beilein said he really liked my style of play back then and he just kept following me ever since then.”
Michigan coaches are intrigued by Edwards’ versatility.
“They said they like my potential,” he said. “They like how I can run the floor for a big and how I’m just quick. They just pointed out that those are some key things that could help their team.”
Edwards listed Georgia, Nebraska, Kansas State, Bowling Green and Michigan as the schools recruiting him the hardest. He previous took an official visit to Northern Illinois and is planning to take an official visit to Georgia this weekend. He hopes to make his decision in April and will be looking for the right fit — both on campus and on the court.
“How the atmosphere is first and good surroundings,” he said. “Also in basketball terms what my role will be coming in.
“Coaches have been saying that I can come in and be a stretch four and have an advantage against other bigs because I’m more athletic and scoring more.”
Michigan coaches told Edwards that there’s a possibility that a scholarship could be waiting for him, but that he’ll have to wait while the roster is sorted out.
“(Michigan) said they may have an offer pending,” he said. “But they said they might know in a week.”
The Wolverines currently have one scholarship available and recently hosted five-star wing Jaylen Brown and German forward Moritz Wagner. Michigan could have additional roster spots due to any potential attrition due to transfers or the NBA Draft.
