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While the Wolverines basketball team has been seeing some attrition despite 2020-21 being a free year in the eyes of the NCAA, on Wednesday, the maize and blue got a bit of a boost.
Grad transfers Mike Smith and Chaundee Brown both chose to depart to try their hands at the NBA draft this summer, but with others being seemingly on the fence, Michigan basketball will be bringing back one pivotal player who could be the face of the team in 2021-22.
That said, guard Eli Brooks, the team captain, is coming back for a fifth and final year, the team announced on Twitter.
📰 SPECIAL ROSTER NEWS 📰
Simply put …
A CAPTAIN IS BACK!Taking advantage of the NCAA's one-time rule in response COVID-19, Eli Brooks met with Coach Howard & accepted the additional year to return for the 2021-22 season!#GoBlue 〽️🏀#ForCompetitorsOnly pic.twitter.com/GMDLq9wquL
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) April 14, 2021
Not only was Brooks coming into his own offensively late in the season, but he’s been the team’s emotional leader and arguably the best defender on the team. Michigan lost its first game of the season this past year, not coincidentally, when Brooks was out with injury.
His return gives Juwan Howard and his staff a bit more flexibility at the guard position this upcoming year, given that Smith opted to move on after one year. With no designated point guard at the moment, Brooks could take over that role or it could go to second-year guard Zeb Jackson or incoming freshman Frankie Collins.
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