Michigan basketball C Hunter Dickinson announces transfer decision

Best of luck to him.

It was a shock to the system in Ann Arbor when Michigan basketball center Hunter Dickinson, the engine of the team the past three years, was announced to be staying in the college ranks — but not with the Wolverines.

The expectation was that Dickinson would return for his senior season, fueled by NIL — but name, image, and likeness seem to be the reason why the star center opted to find a new opportunity via the NCAA transfer portal.

After entering the portal, Dickinson had several options on the table. Kansas appeared to be recruiting him the hardest, Maryland — which now has his former high school coach from DeMatha on-staff — was a strong option, Kentucky threw its hat into the ring, as did Villanova. And then there was also the possibility of a return to Michigan.

But only one school could win out. And that school ended up being Kansas.

Dickinson technically has two seasons of eligibility remaining, as his freshman season — 2020-21 — was the COVID year.

After starting 89-straight games for the Wolverines, Dickinson’s departure was abrupt and shocking. He burst onto the scene his freshman season as the AP Newcomer of the Year, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman team. He was a two-time All-Big Ten first-team member (2021, 2023), and a second-team All-American in 2021. He’s also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten member. He’s 12th all-time in points for a Wolverine, 10th in rebounds, and sixth in double-doubles. He’s seventh in blocks with 149.

With Dickinson gone, Tarris Reed Jr. will need to step up into the center role in his upcoming sophomore season.

Though the Wolverines lost a lot via the transfer portal, it also brought in three players, including former five-star point guard Caleb Love, former four-star combo guard Nimari Burnett, and former four-star forward Tray Jackson.

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