Michigan basketball recruiting - Ben Cronin John Beilein spent much of the past year recruiting Ben Cronin to the University of West Virginia.
Last October, Cronin took an unofficial visit to the West Virginia campus. The 7-foot junior at Henninger High School watched how Beilein utilized his big men in West Virginia's spread-the-floor offense.
Then the University of Michigan lured Beilein out of Morgantown, sending Cronin into recruiting limbo.
Ben said to me 'What's this mean?' " Henninger High School coach Erik Saroney recalled. "I was honest with him. I said 'I don't know.' "
A week after taking the head coaching job at Michigan, Beilein called Saroney to say he was still interested in Cronin.
On Wednesday, Cronin returned the loyalty and accepted Beilein's offer of a scholarship to the University of Michigan. Cronin averaged 12 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks last season at Henninger. He picked the Wolverines over Syracuse and Buffalo. |