We are nearing the end of the season, but just as Michigan head coach Dusty May was not taking any breaks on the recruiting trail just before the season started, he has not let up at the end of it either.
The Wolverines are planning to host King Gibson, a 2027 five-star combo guard, over the weekend as Michigan takes on Michigan State at Crisler Center.
Gibson, who has been on Michigan’s radar for a while, is one of the best players in his class on the 247Sports composite (No. 10 overall, No. 1 guard). Gibson has a lengthy list of scholarship offers already, among them: Indiana, Duke, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Missouri and NC State.
The 6-foot-4, 185-pounder from Burlington, North Carolina has quickly emerged as a top national recruit. Currently playing at SPIRE Academy in Ohio after transferring from the renowned Monteverde Academy in Florida, Gibson has drawn attention from programs across the country with his athleticism, scoring ability and versatility on both ends of the floor.
In 14 games this season for SPIRE Academy, Gibson is averaging 15.2 points, four assists and three rebounds, while shooting 48 percent from the field, 48 percent from the three and 81 percent from the free throw line. He also has 20 steals and four blocks. By the end of the season, he was the leading scorer of the No. 1 ranked team in the country.
Here is a recent recap of Gibson’s play from 247Sports UNC analyst David Sisk.
“Highly ranked SPIRE Academy played three games in the past ten days on the Nike EYB slate. The first ended up in a 79-47 victory against CATS Academy out of Boston. King Gibson helped the cause in just about every way. He finished with 12 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds. The five-star guard went a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line.
“SPIRE also took down Long Island Lutheran who was without Dylan Mingo on the final Sunday in February. Gibson only shot five times, and ended up with eight points in the 76-57 win.
“SPIRE played its final regular season road game on Thursday. It wasn’t just any trip. National power, La Lumiere laid in wait. It’s not often that a home win by the bunch out of Indiana would be considered an upset, but that tells about the reputation of SPIRE who was ranked No.3 in the country. Gibson had a big offensive night despite the 81-73 loss. He scored 24 points that included seven made two-pointers, and seven free throws. He also handed out five assists.”
Gibson is a dynamic perimeter player with immediate upside. His size, athleticism and ability to score at all three levels would complement Michigan’s style of play, potentially providing a Trey McKenney-like freshman season if he were to come to Ann Arbor.
Michigan does not have any commitments for the 2027 class, as five-star prospect Lincoln Cosby reclassified up to 2026.
We’ll keep you updated on Gibson’s recruitment, but weeks before the season ends, it appears the Wolverines are in a great spot on many fronts to build for the future.
