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The wait is finally over, we now know what Michigan’s lineup will be this fall.
The big question facing the Wolverines has been whether or not Wake Forest transfer Chaundee Brown would be deemed eligible after choosing to come to Ann Arbor. While others in his situation were given eligibility, it took a minute for Brown to receive word.
But word came on Friday night, and the shooting guard will be able to suit up for the maize and blue this year.
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Full release:
The NCAA and Big Ten Conference have determined and announced today (Friday, Oct. 30) that University of Michigan senior guard Chaundee Brown Jr. has been granted immediate eligibility to play with the Wolverines for the 2020-21 season following his transfer from Wake Forest.
“First and foremost, whew! I am so thankful and truly blessed for the NCAA, the Big Ten, Michigan and Coach (Juwan) Howard for giving me this opportunity,” said Brown. “I also want to thank Wake Forest, Coach (Danny) Manning and all the administrators and fans in Winston-Salem (N.C.) for giving me three unforgettable years. While it took some time, and while I was prepared for any outcome, you cannot believe the smile and how grateful I am.
“Since my arrival in Ann Arbor, I have been welcomed with open arms. I was ready to do whatever I could to help us succeed either on or off the court. All I know is I cannot wait to put that maize and blue jersey on and play with this group of guys.”
“We are indebted to everyone involved in this process,” said Juwan Howard, U-M’s David and Meredith Kaplan Men’s Basketball Head Coach. “From Warde (Manuel) to Elizabeth (Heinrich) and to everyone at Wake Forest, we are appreciative. We are certainly in unprecedented times; however, having a player with Chaundee’s experiences, skill set and leadership only adds to our versatility and depth this season.”
A strong, physical guard, Brown started 74 of his 84 games during three seasons with the Demon Deacons. Scoring 876 total points at Wake Forest, he averaged 10.4 points per game and compiled double figures in 42 games (50 percent), with 13 games of 20+ points. He scored a career-high 26 points against No. 23 Xavier (Dec. 14, 2019), going 11-for-16 from the field.
For his career, he is averaging 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game and has five career-double doubles. He was named the ACC’s Player of the Week (Dec. 16, 2019) after two straight 25+ point games — Xavier (26) and North Carolina A&T (25) — and tied Wake Forest’s freshman record for three-point percentage, going 6-for-7 (.857) at Boston College (Jan. 6, 2018).
Brown is one of seven newcomers to Michigan’s roster. He joins graduate transfer Mike Smith (Columbia), transfer Brandon Wade (Duquesne) and four freshmen: Hunter Dickinson (Alexandria, Va.), Jace Howard (Miami, Fla.), Zeb Jackson (Toledo, Ohio) and Terrance Williams II (Clinton, Md.).
With the Big Ten continuing to work on a scheduling format during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wolverines have not released a revised 2020-21 schedule after the NCAA approved moving the first contest date to Nov. 25. Programs across the country started practice on Oct. 14.