Jon Horford added a Michigan offer yesterday.

After a good deal of waiting and speculation, class of 2010 prospect Jon Horford, a 6-9 forward from Grand Ledge, picked up an offer from Michigan yesterday ($). Horford is a three-star prospect to both Rivals and Scout, and could be wrapping up his recruitment within the next couple weeks — he is expected to visit Ann Arbor in that time frame and possibly make a decision, one that would likely go for the Wolverines. He is down to a final three of Michigan, Cal, and Providence, but until yesterday only the Friars had extended an offer his way.

If, as expected, Horford does commit to Michigan, what can we expect out of him as a freshman? He has put up great numbers during his senior season, averaging 21 points and 13 rebounds per game for Grand Ledge — it’s obvious the kid can play, but a common thread emerges when you read the scouting reports on him.

Dylan from UMHoops:

But at the end of the day he just doesn’t “wow” you like you would expect a high-major big man to. He got ripped of several rebounds and doesn’t appear to be a tremendous shot blocker, despite being the tallest player on the court. He is very slender from the mid-section down and had to pull up his shorts after about every play.

Calvin from UMHoops:

The first thing you have to say about Horford, and something Dylan mentioned, is that there isn’t much of a “wow” factor. He’s extremely skinny (think a taller Manny Harris, but with slimmer shoulders), which means there aren’t any points in the game when he can just move somebody out of his way. Every offensive move is a finesse move–which isn’t to say they’re bad moves, that’s just the kind of player he is.

Chris Balas of TheWolverine.com:

Horford told TheWolverine.com recently U-M remains his leader, though others continue to watch him closely. He’d prefer to stay instate and would like to play immediately – gaining strength should be his first goal toward that end. Expecting him to help significantly immediately would be a stretch.

This isn’t to say Horford would be a bad pickup — on the contrary, he’s a very skilled prospect with a nice upside and good bloodlines (his brother is the Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford) at a position of great need for Michigan. Expecting Horford to step in right away and contribute, however, might be unfair. At 6-9 and 185 pounds, Horford simply doesn’t have the body of a Division I big man right now, and asking him to add 20-40 pounds to his frame while keeping his touch is a tall order for one year.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m happy Michigan has offered Horford, and I certainly hope he commits — Michigan is in desperate need of big men, and Horford could develop into a really solid power forward. We might just have to show a little patience as he grows into his frame and develops as a collegiate big man who can bang down low in the Big Ten.

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