- Kyle Kelly | Special to cleveland.com
TOLEDO, Ohio — The importance of basketball in the football recruitment of Luke Montgomery became clear when Jim Harbaugh and four Michigan assistant coaches showed up at a Jan. 21 high school basketball game.
Montgomery, a 6-5, 260-pound offensive lineman in the 2023 recruiting class from Findlay High School, spent the night supporting his team from the bench, in a statement 77-50 victory over home team Toledo St. John’s Jesuit. He was sidelined with an ankle injury but that did not stop Harbaugh and assistants Ron Bellamy, Steve Clinkscale, Mike Elston and Sherrone Moore from supporting the four-star standout.
“It’s definitely ramped up,” Montgomery told cleveland.com of Michigan’s interest. “I definitely like them a lot. No one has ever brought four assistants to a game. They have probably had a long time recruiting other schools down south and stuff like that. For them to come is pretty huge and we’re really appreciative of that.”
It was not the first time a host of college football coaches have attended one of Montgomery’s basketball games. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and assistants Corey Dennis and Justin Frye were there on Jan. 14. On Jan. 17, it was Clemson assistant Thomas Austin and Notre Dame assistants Chad Bowden and Michael Moon.
“They are here to see what I can do,” Montgomery said of his basketball performance. “Scoring-wise, they do not care at all. It’s about physicality and how well you can move your feet and flip your hips. I feel like they’re not even watching the game sometimes, they’re just watching how I move. That’s what they usually come here for.”
College football coaches watching high school basketball games are just another part of the recruiting and evaluation process. In Michigan’s case, it was to prove a point.
They want Montgomery to be a Wolverine.
“I was so grateful for Harbaugh to come,” he said. “I didn’t even play. He still showed up tonight and I think that is pretty dang crazy.”
Clemson, Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State are four of Montgomery’s top six schools. Penn State head coach James Franklin visited Montgomery in school on Friday. USC has also come on strong with the addition of Lincoln Riley. But the Wolverines’ impression Friday night was a lasting one on Findlay head varsity football coach Stefan Adams.
“Simply enough, they want him,” Adams said of Michigan. “More than just wanting him, there is a genuine relationship there. I think a lot of times in recruiting we say it’s the pony show. With some guys, there’s genuine relationships. They’re genuinely into him.
“The Ohio State coaches, the Clemson coaches, there are some genuine relationships going on. I think them bringing all those guys displays the idea that they’re very interested; they truly care about this guy. For them to get here shows how much they want him. It’s pretty cool.”