Michigan Wolverines men's basketball Head coach Mike Boynton Jr. has not landed his first commitment at Michigan yet. But now, he is bringing in one of the country's top 2027 prospects to try and change that.

Michigan will host five-star point guard Chase Lumpkin for a July 2 official visit that Boynton offered him back in June. He has been leading the push to get the young player to Ann Arbor ever since.

"I really need to go somewhere I can develop the most and get to the next level and become a pro player," Lumpkin told Rivals. "Where I've got belief in the coaching staff, and they've got belief in me. I just want to get to the next level."

That mindset is exactly the pitch Boynton needs to land him. Boynton built his reputation at Oklahoma State by developing players for the NBA, and that track record is the biggest card Michigan can play in this recruitment.

Having watched Lumpkin closely, analyst Jamie Shaw praised him in his July 18 Rivals report after a recent EYBL performance.

"Lumpkin was the breakout player of the weekend," Shaw wrote, per Rivals. "The Jet Academy guard did a little bit of everything for his team, initiating offense, finishing plays, and generally creating advantages for his team. He showcased excellent vision on the ball and processed quickly and efficiently."

Lumpkin is a 6-foot-4, 180-pound combo guard out of McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. He is ranked No. 25 nationally in the 2027 class and the No. 5 combo guard in the country on 247Sports.

There's a real need at guard for Michigan, someone who can create his own shot, knock down looks, and actually get downhill into the paint. Lumpkin could be exactly that piece in 2027.

Elliot Cadeau might come back under the new 5-for-5 rule. But if he declares for the NBA after this season instead, Michigan will need someone ready at point guard, and Lumpkin fits that role well.

Lumpkin has already taken unofficial visits to Georgia, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky. He also has official visits lined up at USC in late August and Alabama in September. Michigan is trying to get in front of him before those visits take place.

In EYBL play this summer, Lumpkin is averaging nearly 18 points, five assists, and five rebounds per game.

Mike Boynton has still not secured his first commitment in the 2027 class

Michigan had one of the top 2026 recruiting classes in the country under Dusty May. Boynton is still searching for his first 2027 pledge. And he has been busy building quickly.

Boynton offered Michigan State legacy Mateen Cleeves Jr. and five-star Brady Pettigrew in recent days, making them the first prospects to receive offers from the new Michigan coaching staff, per SI.

Landing Lumpkin would be a statement move for a first-year head coach, who is still proving himself to the recruiting world.

A five-star commitment of that caliber would also send a message to every other prospect on Michigan's board that Boynton is a real destination.

Do you think Mike Boynton can land Chase Lumpkin and get Michigan's 2027 class off to a strong start? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit