Five takeaways from the July evaluation period

The July evaluation period is in the books and Michigan has already added a class of 2016 commitment. Here’s an overview of where things stand after the July evaluation period.

1. Ibi Watson earns his offer

It wasn’t a well kept secret that Ibi Watson wanted a Michigan offer entering July and that the Wolverines weren’t going to give it away easy. The mutual interest was there from the start, but Watson needed to play well this July to join the class. He did and now he’s in.

There were other options like Karmari Newman, Amir Coffey and even a late-bloomer like Maishe Dailey, but at the end of the day Watson’s stellar play combined with his mutual interest proved to be the winning combination. Watson’s commitment means that Michigan’s main focus between now and the early signing period in November will be finding a point guard to sign on the dotted line.

2. Point guard hierarchy

Cassius Winston is Michigan’s top point guard target and has been for at least the last year. Michigan has the final official visit in his recruitment and has done everything in its power to stay at or near the top of the pack. Winston’s unofficial visit count to Ann Arbor (and probably East Lansing as well) is in the double-digits and the Wolverines put the full court press on him during the July period. Winston is Michigan’s guy and he’s going to be the recruiting focus for the next several months.