Tag: michigan-basketball

Is Michigan basketball trending for this high-profile transfer?

Are things looking up for #Michigan basketball? #GoBlue

In terms of the transfer portal, Michigan basketball has won some and it’s lost some.

The Wolverines brought in three transfers thus far this offseason in F Olivier Nkamhoua from Tennessee, Nimari Burnett from Alabama via Texas Tech, and Tray Jackson from Seton Hall. They had a commitment from Caleb Love, but the North Carolina guard wasn’t cleared by admissions.

Michigan also lost Hunter Dickinson and Gregg Glenn III via the transfer portal.

There have been multiple players in Juwan Howard’s sights, but they’ve either remained with their program or ended up elsewhere.

That’s when a new target emerged in former West Virginia guard Jose Perez. Perez entered the portal this summer following the commotion surrounding head coach Bob Huggins. He averaged 18.9 points per game in 2021-22 while still playing at Manhattan. He transferred last year to WVU, but wasn’t cleared to play immediately, despite having four years of experience — including the COVID year.

According to The Michigan Insider’s Davis Moseley, Perez appears to be trending to Michigan basketball, but Gonzaga is also under strong consideration.

The Wolverines have been looking for another scorer at the guard position all offseason and appeared to have their man when Love initially committed. They sought after Kentucky’s Antonio Reeves, but he opted to remain in Lexington.

While the competition that Perez faced playing for Manhattan certainly wasn’t at the same level as the Big Ten, the maize and blue have had luck with bringing in guards from lesser schools — such as Mike Smith coming from Columbia and Jaelin Llewellyn from Princeton (the latter only played a handful of games before going down with a season-ending injury).

Time will tell if the Wolverines can close on Perez and cement the roster heading into next season.

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What 247Sports thinks will be Michigan basketball most fun lineup

What do you think of this lineup? #GoBlue

Michigan basketball has had something of a topsy-turvy offseason this year. With numerous transfers out (star center Hunter Dickinson and forward Gregg Glenn III), in (guard Nimari Burnett and forwards Olivier Nkamhoua and Tray Jackson), and lost (Caleb Love committed but was not admitted, same with Papa Kante), even with just the main cast of characters, it’s been interesting. And that’s not even mentioning players who had Michigan interest in the transfer portal who ended up elsewhere.

That said, there’s still a lot to like about the current Wolverines roster. And 247Sports thinks it has a beat on who could be the most interesting five to be on the floor at the same time.

247Sports put together a list of the most interesting lineups for each Big Ten team, and in the section for the maize and blue, Isaac Trotter thinks it would be the most fun to see a guard-heavy lineup in Ann Arbor.

1. Dug McDaniel

2. Jaelin Llewellyn

3. Nimari Burnett

4. Olivier Nkamhoua

5. Tarris Reed Jr.

Why this lineup is fun: Michigan ran a ball screen on 19% of its possessions last year which was the most of any Big Ten team, according to Synergy. It was the most of the Juwan Howard era. Dug McDaniel (204 ball screens), Kobe Bufkin (157 ball screens) and Jett Howard (83 ball screens) earned heavy run. Juwan Howard has been very willing to play multiple point guards together during his tenure, and he may have to lean on it with McDaniel and Llewellyn in 2023-24. It helps when both Reed and Nkamhoua can be really good pick-and-roll partners for Michigan’s lead guards. This roster needs more proven shooting, and it lacks an alpha on the wing, but Michigan’s roster-construction decisions hint at a lot of two-point-guard lineups and a ton of pick-and-rolls next winter.

There’s one obvious omission here: Terrance Williams. While there are some others that are likely to play key roles (Will Tschetter, Youssef Khayat), Williams is entering his senior year and likely second year as a starter. He regressed mightily in 2022-23, but if he was able to fulfill the promise of his potential, that would bode very well for the maize and blue moving forward.

Either way, after three years of Hunter Dickinson being the focal point for the Wolverines, what we see on the floor in Juwan Howard’s fifth year will be quite interesting, because even before Dickinson joined the team in 2020, Howard at least had a quintessential big man in Jon Teske. Tarris Reed is big, but he’s more of a forward than a true center.

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Former Michigan basketball G Caris LeVert agrees to new two-year deal

Awesome news for Caris! #GoBlue

Caris LeVert is staying home.

The Ohio native joined the Cleveland Cavaliers last season and had career highs in multiple categories as his career continues to flourish. The former Wolverines guard got his start with the Brooklyn Nets before being traded to the Indiana Pacers. He played a season there and was traded again midseason to the Cavs.

His patience is reportedly paying off.

According to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the former star of Pickerington (Ohio) Central in the Columbus suburbs has agreed to a new two-year deal to keep him in his home state. He will make $32 million on his new contract.

LeVert’s NBA prospects weren’t exactly high coming out of Michigan given his rash of injuries that plagued his career. He struggled with being healthy throughout his time in Ann Arbor, and while he’s made a name for himself in the NBA, the injury struggles have plagued him in the professional ranks, as well.

However, after only eclipsing 60 games played once in his career (71 in 2017-18), he managed to set a career-high by playing in 74 games this past season, while also having his best season in 3-point percentage.

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Kobe Bufkin brings an ‘all-around’ game to Atlanta; says he is compared to an Ohio State guard

Such an all-around player! #GoBlue

Kobe Bufkin was selected just a few picks after his college teammate, Jett Howard, in the 2023 NBA draft. The Atlanta Hawks scooped Bufkin up with the No. 15 pick.

Bufkin left Michigan after a transcending sophomore year where he averaged 14 points and shot 35% from 3. He became the Wolverines’ go-to guy and he also become one of Michigan’s better defenders.

During Atlanta’s press conference, the Hawks’ GM Landy Fields and Kobe Bufkin spoke about Bufkin joining the franchise.

Fields told the media he loved the passion that Bufkin brings to the floor every play. He can tell that basketball brings a lot of joy to Bufkin and that really stood out.

“I think it got serious when one of our intel sources said something along the lines of, ‘There are guys who love the game and then there are guys who are in love with the game.’ This is a guy who is in love with the game,” said Fields.

Bufkin is only 19 years old, with two years of college experience, and he will turn 20 close to training camp time. Atlanta isn’t only getting a young player, but Bufkin is a mature player who doesn’t have many weaknesses in his game. Fields told the media that Bufkin’s all-around game stood out to him.

“When we spoke with him in Chicago, that was another huge moment for me,” Fields said. “He’s just very mature in the way that he sees the game: the feel, the IQ, the confidence that he has as well. He’s just a very fluid type of player. He can play on-ball, off-ball. He defends, and that’s big for us as well. He’s young and still growing and getting better.”

When Bufkin spoke to the media, he was asked to self-scout himself. He believes he also has an all-around game, and while he can improve on areas, none of them are a big weakness.

“I think my skill set is pretty all-around,” Bufkin said. “I can improve in many areas, but it doesn’t really lack much.”

While he feels he currently doesn’t have any big weakness in his game, he admitted that defense was a big issue two seasons ago in Michigan. During his freshman year, Bufkin struggled on the defensive side of the court, but after taking a whole summer to focus on that area, he quickly became one of the better defenders.

“Defensively, my freshman year I couldn’t guard nobody,” Bufkin said. “I’m going to just put it like that. I finally just focused on moving my feet and that allowed me to get on the court my second year and have a big impact on defense first.”

Bufkin was asked about a comparable player in the NBA. He watches Devin Booker a lot, so does Jett Howard, but he says he is compared to former Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell.

“I think that’s just because I’m a left-handed player,” Bufkin added, “but I watch a lot of D-Book (Devin Booker).”

The odds are slim that Bufkin will start right away for Atlanta. He plays guard and the Hawks have two All-Stars at guard at the moment. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are cemented in the starting lineup, but that doesn’t scare Bufkin. He is excited to compete against those two and he is ready to learn from two of the better guards in the NBA.

“I’m just looking forward to competing against Trae Young and Dejounte Murray,” he said. “They go at it. I’ve paid attention, so I’m definitely ready to get down there and get on the court with those guys and learn.”

Bufkin will compete in the NBA Summer League in early July.

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Jett Howard talks Franz Wagner, Caleb Houstan, and who he models his game after during Orlando Magic press conference

Really hope he excels there! #GoBlue

Jett Howard became the latest lottery pick from Michigan basketball when he was selected by the Orlando Magic with the No. 11 pick in the 2023 NBA draft this past Thursday.

Howard entered the draft after one season with the Wolverines where he averaged 14.2 points and shot over 36% from 3. The Magic have a crowded backcourt, but Howard should carve his way into playing time by being able to shoot the 3 — he can also play the ‘3’ if needed.

By selecting Howard, Orlando has now picked a Michigan player in the first round in three consecutive drafts. Two seasons ago, the Magic took Franz Wagner, and last year, Caleb Houstan was a first-round pick.

During his introductory press conference with the Magic, Howard was asked who he models his game after. He quickly told the media he studies the Phoniex Suns’ star, Devin Booker. But he also mentioned former Michigan players, Franz Wagner, and Caleb Houstan.

“Devin Booker, I would probably say just watching his game and studying his game,” Howard said. “Then on the roster, I’d probably say Franz (Wagner) and Caleb Houstan — Michigan guys. But honestly, I’m open to learning from anybody. I’m just a sponge at this point.”

The Wolverines have had six players drafted in the past three seasons, including Howard and Kobe Bufkin in this draft. Dating back to 2014, Michigan has had nine first-round selections.

Howard believes Michigan is sending so many players to the league because of the culture that is set in Ann Arbor. He believes it’s a testament to what the Wolverines are doing as a team.

“I don’t want to go on and on about Michigan, but I’d probably just say we’re high IQ dudes,” said Howard. “We understand how to play the game and how to think the game. That’s just kudos to the program and everyone that put us through that and helped us understand that. We have a culture down there, so I feel like that is probably why we are in this organization today.”

Howard will have some time to train with the Magic before playing in the NBA Summer League and will play with some former Wolverines on that roster.

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What’s being said: NBA experts grade Jett Howard, Kobe Bufkin selections

What did you think of the picks? #GoBlue

Michigan basketball had a pair of first-round selections on Thursday night during the 2023 NBA draft.

Many experts believed Kobe Bufkin would be the first Wolverine off the board, but it was in fact, Jett Howard. The Orlando Magic took Howard with the No. 11 pick in the draft.

Not too far after Howard, sophomore Kobe Bufkin heard his name called with the No. 15 pick to the Atlanta Hawks. Bufkin has a little tougher path to playing time than Howard does though — or at least starting. Bufkin has Trae Young and Dejounte Murray ahead of him at both guard spots for now.

With Jett Howard & Kobe Bufkin going 11th and 15th, Michigan has multiple top-15 picks in a draft for the first time since 1994 (Juwan Howard & Jalen Rose).

We are going to show you what different NBA draft experts thought of the selections and the grades that were given to the Magic and Hawks for selecting the Michigan duo.

Twitter reactions: Kobe Bufkin was selected in the 2023 NBA draft

Congratulations! #GoBlue

Kobe Bufkin came to Michigan basketball as a four-star recruit in the 2021 recruiting class. According to the Composite, the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Grand Rapids Christian star was the 46th-ranked player in the ’21 cycle.

Bufkin played as a freshman with the Wolverines, but it was his sophomore season when he really broke out. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 14 points. 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and shot 35.5% from 3 last season. Bufkin became Michigan’s go-to player toward the end of the season and when the Wolverines needed a big bucket, Bufkin usually took the shot.

Bufkin got to live out his dream by playing two seasons for Juwan Howard and Michigan. Then on Thursday night, Bufkin was selected with the No. 15 pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2023 NBA draft.

Here are the best Twitter reactions after Bufkin was taken.

Kobe Bufkin selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft

Congrats, Kobe! #GoBlue

That’s not a headline many in the Michigan basketball community would have expected at this time last year. And perhaps not at the culmination of the 2022-23 season, either.

But the stars aligned perfectly for Wolverines shooting guard Kobe Bufkin. Coming off of his second year, and his first as a starter, despite Michigan’s moribund season, the Grand Rapids native was one of the maize and blue’s few bright spots. He started slow but ended up being a dependable player down the stretch.

It was no surprise given his 14-point-per-game average last year, along with 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists that he would test the NBA draft waters, and once it appeared he would be a first-rounder, it was a no-brainer he’d stay in.

And it paid off. Though he wasn’t a lottery pick as the mock drafts indicated, Bufkin still went in the first round at No. 15 to the Atlanta Hawks. He follows Kobe Bufkin who went at No. 11 overall to the Orlando Magic.

The breakdown from NBA.com:

Overview

Bursting onto the scene down the final stretch for Michigan, Kobe Bufkin’s sophomore year emergence earned him Third-team All-Big Ten honors. Over Michigan’s final 12 games, Bufkin averaged 17.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals-plus-blocks per game while shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 45.1 percent from beyond the arc. Bufkin was a McDonald’s All-American in 2021, and he’s very young for his class, not turning 20 until September 2023.

Analysis

Bufkin is a do-it-all combo guard specializing in scoring at the basket. His body control and offensive polish are impressive. He’s a well-built lefty at 6-foot-5 that can score at all three levels. Bufkin makes good decisions with the ball in his hands, is a great rebounder for a guard, and has a size that yields natural versatility. Finding a prospect with so few holes, flashy skills, and above-average size at a premium position is rare.

Projection

The sample size on Bufkin is small, but there are strong indicators that he’s fundamentally sound with a high ceiling. He’ll need some reps orchestrating an NBA offense, but his hustle will earn him minutes, and his shooting is already credible. The slashing should translate. Bufkin may be locked into a sizable role by the later stages of his rookie season and could become a reliable sixth man sooner than later.

With Bufkin gone, Michigan basketball will be turning to transfer Nimari Burnett, who had initially considered committing to the Wolverines before going to Texas Tech and then Alabama.

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Twitter reactions: Michigan’s Jett Howard was selected in the 2023 NBA draft

Atta boy! #GoBlue

Juwan Howard has the pleasure of coaching both of his sons: Jace and Jett. Jace is still with Michigan, but Jett Howard played one season with the maize and blue before entering the NBA draft.

Howard came to Michigan as a four-star recruit and the 43rd-ranked prospect in the 2022 cycle, according to the Composite. During his lone season with the Wolverines, the 6-foot-8 guard/forward had a solid season. He averaged 14.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, two assists, and shot 36.8% from 3.

The youngest Howard was limited to 29 games due to the injury bug. But when healthy, Howard showed the promise he has as an elite 3-point shooter. NBA scouts really love that about his game and it explains why he was selected in the first round.

After Howard was selected by the Orlando Magic with the No. 11 pick in the 2023 NBA draft on Thursday, Twitter went nuts.

Here are the best Twitter reactions after Howard was selected.

Jett Howard first Big Ten player selected in 2023 NBA draft

The Wolverines’ NBA team! #GoBlue

It wasn’t quite the prolific season that Jett Howard had hoped for, but he did have one year to be coached by his father, Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard, at the college level.

Jett Howard was a high-profile recruit coming out of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, and while he was a Michigan legacy, he strongly considered Tennessee before ultimately coming to Ann Arbor. His talent was obvious, but he was often stymied by a rash of injuries as well as streaky play. However, he was undeniable when fully healthy.

Michigan knew that in the younger Howard brother (Juwan’s other son, Jace, is a forward on the team) that it likely had a one-year rental, and that ended up being the case as he entered the NBA draft after his freshman campaign.

Howard averaged 14.2 points per game in 29 games, along with 2.8 rebounds and 2 assists a game. He appeared live in Brooklyn for the 2023 NBA draft and that paid off, as the shooting guard was selected in the first round by the Orlando Magic at No. 11 overall — making him a lottery pick.

He joins former Wolverines Moe and Franz Wagner who are currently on the Magic.

The profile from NBA.com on Howard:

Overview

Jett Howard is the son of Juwan Howard, a former NBA All-Star, who coached him at Michigan. Howard started 28 of his 29 appearances as a one-and-done freshman, averaging 14.2 points (on 41/37/80% shooting splits), 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 31.7 minutes per game. Those numbers earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Third Team and the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. He posted season highs of 34 points, seven 3-pointers, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals and four blocks. Before college, Howard was a four-star recruit and was invited to both the Jordan Brand Classic and Iverson Roundball Classic.

Analysis

Howard is first and foremost a 3-point shooter, whether it be off of standstill catch-and-shoots or even movement with the basketball. He can also pump-fake and drive into mid-rangers and floaters, but if help defense pushes up, his passing ability helps create good looks for his teammates. Howard’s good length for a wing allows him to shoot over contests.

Projection

Howard’s ability to knock down 3-pointers and be a secondary playmaker could make him a plug-and-play option for most teams, especially those in need of perimeter shooting off the bench. His game is comparable to a more 3-point oriented Chandler Parsons or a bigger Tim Hardaway Jr. Teams can run plays for Howard, or he can find action in the flow of the game — both of which are useful in the NBA.

With Howard out of the picture, Michigan will need someone with shooting prowess to step up to the plate this upcoming season. It continues to look to the NCAA transfer portal for such a player, but perhaps will be able to rely on former Vols guard Olivier Nkamkhoua, who was a late add this offseason.

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