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Where Jett Howard, Kobe Bufkin go in ESPN’s latest 2023 NBA mock draft

Stoked to see where they end up tonight! #GoBlue

It’s NBA draft day and it will all take place at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

On Thursday morning, ESPN updated their 2023 NBA mock draft ($) and per usual, both Michigan basketball players find themselves in the first round.

In this mock draft, Kobe Bufkin — the first Wolverine taken — finds himself going 13th overall to the Toronto Raptors. It’s noted in the excerpt that speculation is Bufkin was promised to go to Toronto if available.

The Raptors have a plethora of options at their disposal that could see them end up anywhere on draft night — higher up in the lottery, with another pick in the mid-to-late first round — or possibly out altogether. Picking a shooter such as Dick or Jordan Hawkins, or pairing franchise stalwart Scottie Barnes with a versatile combo guard such as Bufkin, Nick Smith Jr. or Hood-Schifino are believed to be some of their most likely options, according to rival teams. However, the amount of activity coming out of the Toronto front office makes it difficult to project what they will do. Bufkin’s fit with Barnes because of his experience playing off the ball, defensive tenacity and much-improved shooting has caused many to speculate that the Raptors are the ones who promised Bufkin this pick, and he indeed finds himself as the pick in this scenario.

Bufkin’s name continues to rise in NBA mock drafts and the NBA circle. He had a fantastic sophomore season averaging 14 points per game and shooting 35.5% from behind the arc. He left after his sophomore season and I’m not sure Bufkin’s draft grade could get much higher than it is right now. It sounds like a real possibility Bufkin goes in the lottery.

Jett Howard finds himself just a few picks after Bufkin and right outside the lottery. The Los Angeles Lakers take Howard in this mock at No. 17.

Howard is said to be part of a group of options that include Lively, Smith and Noah Clowney, three of whom are available in this scenario. Coming off a run to the Western Conference finals, the Lakers can be opportunistic about where they are positioned on draft night. Several high-level prospects are likely to be available here, allowing them to either add a talented young player to their core or make an impactful trade to remain competitive heading into next season. Should they stand pat, adding a shooter with size, feel and pedigree such as Howard makes a lot of sense with their current roster configuration.

It feels like Howard’s name is all over the place in mock drafts. I’ve seen some mocks where he goes toward the end of the lottery and others where he drops into the 20s. Howard had a solid freshman season with Michigan, but unlike Bufkin, his draft stock could be higher. He averaged 14.2 points while shooting 36.8% from 3.

Stay tuned to see where both get selected in the 2023 NBA draft. Wolverines Wire will have you covered when Bufkin and Howard get selected.

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Michigan basketball misses out on Kentucky transfer

Well, that’s a bummer.

Michigan basketball has been active in the transfer portal this cycle, for better and for worse.

The Wolverines have gotten a few key pieces this offseason, including Nimari Burnett from Alabama via Texas Tech, Tray Jackson from Seton Hall, and Olivier Nkamhoua from Tennessee. But, they also had former five-star Caleb Love from North Carolina committed, though he didn’t clear admissions and ended up having to leave the class.

Michigan had hoped to continue to bolster its roster which saw losses of Kobe Bufkin and Jett Howard to the NBA draft, and star center Hunter Dickinson along with forward Gregg Glenn to the transfer portal. One name that had kept popping up was Kentucky shooting guard Antonio Reeves, who was reportedly looking to seek a new opportunity and was enrolled in courses at Illinois State after withdrawing from the NBA draft.

However, according to 247Sports, Reeves has opted against going to Ann Arbor (or to Indiana) and has chosen to rejoin the Wildcats in Lexington.

Kentucky shooting guardAntonio Reeves is back on Kentucky’s campus and is expected to play for the Wildcats in 2023-24, a source told 247Sports. Reeves’ situation has been extremely fluid this offseason. First, Reeves entered the 2023 NBA Draft. But after withdrawing his name, his future at Kentucky immediately became uncertain as he enrolled in courses at Illinois State in order to graduate.

However, after weeks of uncertainty as to whether he will graduate and transfer — or, if he could even graduate from another school and transfer — he is back on Kentucky campus and expected to be coming back for his final season of college basketball.

Michigan was also reportedly looking at Rutgers guard Paul Mulcahy, who entered the transfer portal earlier this month. However, it appears that he is not considering the Wolverines at this time. We’ll see if that changes now that the maize and blue aren’t targeting Reeves given this new development.

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Michigan basketball announces 11-game non-conference schedule for 2023-2024

We now know officially what the non-conference slate looks like. #GoBlue

Michigan basketball officially announced its non-conference basketball schedule for the 2023-2024 season on Wednesday afternoon.

The Wolverines have 11 games on the docket for non-conference action. Michigan will get things started on Nov. 7 against UNC Ashville. The maize and blue will have five home games this season, two away games, Michigan will take part in the Battle 4 Atlantis, and the Wolverines will face Florida in Charlotte (North Carolina) in the Jumpman Invitational.

One of the away games will be at St. John’s which is a part of the Gavitt Games. Big Ten schools face Big East schools yearly for the battle of the conferences.

Let's make this official ☑️

Be sure to check out the non-conference slate for next season! Stay on top of all your basketball ticketing news with the Interest Form: https://t.co/FDQVUvPe8R

Release | https://t.co/lPHASrPIcx #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/n5AVVZQ149

— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) June 21, 2023

You can read the press release below:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Highlighted by returns to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis, Charlotte, N.C., for the Jumpman Invitational and Madison Square Garden for a Gavitt Tipoff Games matchup with St. John’s as well as a west-coast road trip to face Oregon, the University of Michigan basketball team announced Wednesday (June 21) its 11-game non-conference schedule for the 2023-24 season.

The 2023-24 season begins helping kick off the Purdue football weekend with a to-be-announced exhibition opponent on Friday, Nov. 3 at Crisler Center. The following week, the Wolverines tip off their regular season hosting defending Big South champion UNC Asheville on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The Bulldogs finished 27-8 last season with a 16-2 mark in league play. They fell to No. 2 seed UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Closing the opening week, U-M hosts defending Horizon League champion Youngstown State on Friday, Nov. 10. The Penguins closed with a 24-10 record and won the conference title with a 15-5 record. After falling in the semifinals of the conference tournament, YSU picked up an NIT bid, but fell in the first round at Oklahoma State.

Heading to the Big Apple, the Wolverines will take on Rick Pitino’s St. John’s Red Storm in the 2023 Gavitt Tipoff Games at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Nov. 17. The Wolverines are 2-2 all-time in the Gavitt Games. Returning to Ann Arbor, U-M welcomes former Minnesota head coach Don Monson’s Long Beach State squad to Crisler on Friday, Nov. 17. Monson spent seven seasons in Minneapolis before heading to the west coast, where he has guided the Sharks to four Big West titles.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the Maize and Blue returns to Paradise Island in the Bahamas to participate in the Battle 4 Atlantis (Nov. 22-24). The three-game event features a loaded field with Arkansas, Memphis, North Carolina, Northern Iowa, Stanford, Texas Tech and Villanova. In its last appearance, U-M won the 2019 title in Juwan Howard‘s first year as head coach after wins over Iowa State and upsets over No. 6 North Carolina and No. 8 Gonzaga.

U-M heads to Eugene, Ore., to open the month of December facing Oregon on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Matthew Knight Arena. The Wolverines are 4-2 all-time against the Ducks, but the Maize and Blue has lost the last two matchups. This season’s road game closes out a home-and-home series after No. 10 Oregon escaped Ann Arbor with a 71-70 OT victory over No. 5 Michigan at Crisler Center on Dec. 14, 2019.

Following a pair of early Big Ten games, which are still being determined, the Wolverines take on Washtenaw County neighbor Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Dec. 16 at Crisler Center. The game marks the second straight year U-M takes on EMU after the rivals met at Little Caesars Arena last season — an 88-83 win for Michigan in downtown Detroit.

After the conclusion of the fall semester’s finals, the Wolverines return to Charlotte to participate in the Jumpman Invitational, along with the U-M women’s program. In last year’s inaugural Jordan event featuring the first four programs to sign with the brand, both U-M squads faced off with North Carolina.

This year, U-M will take on Florida as the men’s game will be Tuesday, Dec. 19 while the women’s game will be the following night on Wednesday, Dec. 20. The non-conference season and the 2023 calendar year come to an end for the Michigan as the Wolverines host McNeese on Friday, Dec. 29.

In the Big Ten season, the Wolverines will have home games with Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin, while heading on the road to face Maryland, Northwestern and Penn State. In addition to the rivalry matchup with Michigan State, U-M will have traditional home-and-home games with Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue and Rutgers. The 2024 Big Ten Tournament shifts to Minneapolis, Minn., and the Target Center from March 13-17.

New season tickets are sold out for the 2023-24 season. Ticket packs and single-game tickets will go on sale in early to mid-September. For further information about ticketing, fill out the Michigan basketball ticket interest form and sign up for This Week in Michigan Basketball to get the latest news and updates from the program delivered to your inbox.

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Where Kobe Bufkin and Jett Howard go in the final USA TODAY Sports NBA mock draft

Excited to see where they go on Thursday!

We are two days away from the 2023 NBA draft. Two Michigan basketball players will hear their names called on Thursday, and both Kobe Bufkina and Jett Howard appear to be first-round locks.

On Tuesday morning, USA TODAY Sports released their final NBA mock draft.

We have been seeing Bufkin’s name ranging as high as No. 9 or No. 10 down to No. 15 or No. 16 in mock drafts. In this particular mock, Bufkin is headed to the Atlanta Hawks at No. 15.

A second year in college proved to be huge for Bufkin, who can score from all over and is especially good at attacking the rim and finishing through contact. He’s a tough on-ball defender, too.

The 6-foot-5 guard left Michigan after his breakout sophomore campaign. He averaged 14 points per game and became the Wolverines’ go-to guy toward the end of the season.

Michigan freshman Jett Howard’s name comes up in different places in mock drafts. We’ve seen Howard mentioned anywhere from outside the lottery to the end of the first round. But in this mock, he goes to the Brooklyn Nets with the 21st pick.

A versatile playmaker who loves the pressure of a big moment and has a high basketball IQ, Jett is the son of former NBA All-Star and Michigan coach Juwan Howard.

Howard was plagued with injuries during his lone season in Ann Arbor, but he sure did flash with talent. He averaged 14.2 points per game and shot 36.8% from 3. Howard is bound to improve on his 3 in the NBA and may be known as a knock-down 3-point shooter.

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REPORT: Michigan basketball to target a Memphis transfer

#Michigan needs a couple more players.

The Michigan hoops squad still has two open scholarships left to fill for the 2023-24 basketball season. The maize and blue have signed three transfers into the class, but with the attrition that took place, Michigan is still in need of capable bodies.

Michigan has been rumored to be in on a couple of players for a little while now like Kentucky’s Antonio Reeves — if he actually enters the portal — and Rutgers guard Paul Mulcahy.

You can now add another name into the mix. According to Davis Mosley, the Wolverines will likely get involved and target Memphis transfer Chandler Lawson. The 6-foot-7 forward just entered the portal on Monday.

Expecting #Michigan to get involved with Memphis transfer (@chandlerlawson0).

The 6-foot-7 tweener forward averaged 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds on 56% FG and 50% from three. Elite defender.

Grad transfer that can make an immediate impact on both ends.

— Davis Moseley (@DavisMoseley) June 19, 2023

Lawson played four seasons with Memphis and will be a graduate transfer wherever he may land. Last season, Lawson played 35 games — with 24 starts — and averaged five points, 4,5 rebounds, shot 56.7% from the field, and 50% from 3.

He was a sought-after recruit back in 2019. Lawson was a four-star recruit and the 95th-ranked player in the nation according to the Composite. He is from Memphis (Tennessee).

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Michigan basketball 2023-2024 non-conference schedule has been released

Should be an intriguing schedule.

Although we don’t know the dates for Big Ten action in the 2023-24 season, we have known who the Wolverines basketball squad will face in conference play.

Now we also know exactly who Michigan will take on during non-conference action this season as well. Thanks to Rocco Miller on Twitter, we now know the dates, teams, and tournaments Michigan will take on.

The Wolverines recently added Long Beach State, Eastern Michigan, and McNeese to finalize the schedule.

Here is what the non-conference slate is going to look like in order.

Nov. 7: vs. UNC Ashville

Nov 10: vs. Youngstown State

Nov. 13: @ Saint John’s (Gavitt Games)

Nov. 17: vs. Long Beach State

Nov. 22-24: Battle 4 Atlantis (Michigan, Arkansas, Memphis, North Carolina, Northern Iowa, Stanford, Texas Tech, and Villanova will all be playing)

Dec. 2: @ Oregon

Dec. 16: vs. Eastern Michigan

Dec. 19: vs. Florida (Jumpman Classic in North Carolina)

Dec. 29: vs. McNeese

Michigan is close to rounding out its roster for the season, but there are still two open scholarship spots available. We will update you when those get filled.

The Michigan Wolverines have confirmed three more home games against Long Beach State (11/17), Eastern Michigan (12/16), and McNeese (12/29).

Michigan adds quality competition to fill the schedule. McNeese and likely UNCA will be picked to win their respective leagues.

Outline: pic.twitter.com/xuVqbPuLne

— Rocco Miller (@RoccoMiller8) June 15, 2023

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Where Kobe Bufkin, Jett Howard are projected to land in latest ESPN 2023 NBA mock draft

Both of them should be first-round picks!

We are just over a week away from the 2023 NBA draft which is held on Thursday, June 22.

The Wolverines have two players that have a high chance of becoming first-round selections next Thursday evening. Both Kobe Bufkin and Jett Howard received green room invites and are projected as the top 19 players in the draft.

With the draft getting closer and closer draft analysts are starting to finalize their mock drafts. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremey Woo updated their mock draft on Tuesday.

Sophomore Kobe Bufkin lands in the lottery in this updated mock. He is selected No. 12 overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Bufkin has quietly gathered a good deal of interest in the pre-draft process and is being extremely selective where he works out, with a lottery selection potentially on the horizon. The Thunder have plenty of young guards and can go in a number of directions at No. 12, but Oklahoma City rarely hesitates to grab the best talent on the board, and Bufkin has built a strong case to be the first player drafted among a large group of guards jockeying for position. He’s a name to watch over the next week, with room to potentially rise higher. Washington and Utah appear to be candidates to select guards at No. 8 and No. 9.

Bufkin left Michigan after having a sensational sophomore campaign. The 6-foot-4 guard became the go-to guy for the Wolverines toward the end of the season and averaged 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Bufkin shot 35% from 3 in 2022 and has the capabilities of improving in that area to become a deep threat in the NBA.

Jett Howard’s name slips a little in this mock draft. The ESPN crew has Howard going No. 19 to the Golden State Warriors.

Howard’s draft range starts around No. 11 (Orlando), with plenty of teams looking for shooters with size, skill and feel that will likely consider him, including Toronto (No. 13), Utah (No. 16), and the Lakers (No. 17). He’s an extreme contrast in ability, from what he showed early in the season until late of it when he played through an injury. If not Howard, the Warriors could look at other prospects who fit their style of play. The appetite for taking on more projects will likely be limited due to their narrow window for maximizing the prime of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and others. Sources tell ESPN the Warriors are also exploring the option of acquiring a high draft pick in exchange for a young prospect such as Jonathan Kuminga.

Howard left after his freshman season in Ann Arbor. He averaged 14.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and two assists per game. Howard played in 29 games due to injury and shot 36% from 3. The Warriors would be a good spot for the youngest Howard to fit his style of play. Howard has the ability to become a knockdown 3-point shooter in the NBA and what team would be better to fit that style other than the Warriors?

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Michigan basketball officially introduces its biggest transfer get and former Tennessee Volunteer

What a fantastic get for the Wolverines!

It was a magical rollercoaster of a ride for Michigan to land the Tennessee transfer, Olivier Nkamhoua. When the Finland native entered the portal, he was originally thought to be a Michigan lean, but Nkamhoua wanted to test the professional route.

Once he didn’t receive an NBA Combine invite, he wanted to visit different colleges. Nkahmoua took visits to Michigan, Kansas State, Baylor, and West Virginia. Following a visit to Michigan, reports came out stating he eliminated the Wolverines from contention — big blow.

But something incredible happened and Nkamhoua ultimately committed and signed with the Wolverines as a graduate transfer for the 2023-2024 season. The 6-foot-9 forward was a big part of the Tennessee rotation last season. He averaged 10.8 points and five rebounds last season while starting every game.

You can read the entire press release below via MGoBlue:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — David and Meredith Kaplan U-M Basketball Head Coach Juwan Howard announced Thursday (June 7) the addition of Finland native and 6-9 forward Olivier Nkamhoua (Tennessee) as a graduate transfer for the 2023-24 season. Nkamhoua becomes U-M basketball’s sixth graduate transfer.

“It’s a thrill to be able to bring in an efficient and skilled player like Olivier,” said Howard. “He brings so many intangibles and experiences we know he will have an immediate impact for us. His strength, rebounding, hustle, back-to-the-basket game as well right away. However, what people don’t realize is what a tremendous passer he is. He sees the floor and plays develop as good as anyone I have seen. We are very excited for him to get to Ann Arbor.”

“Choosing Michigan is another step in my development, both now and for the future,” said Nkamhoua. “I know the staff, my new teammates and everyone in Ann Arbor are going to challenge me to keep getting better. I can’t wait for that. I also want to be a part of the U-M culture Coach Howard has created — family and that never- back- down attitude. I look forward to being a part of a team full of guys that are hungry to prove themselves and everyone wrong.”

Nkamhoua spent the last four seasons playing for Rick Barnes at Tennessee (2020-23) where he played in 112 games (58 starts), compiling a 70-28 record. With the Volunteers, Nkamhoua made three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament (2021, ’22, ’23) reaching the Sweet 16 in 2023. In 2022, he helped UT win the SEC Tournament title — the first in 43 years and fifth in program history.

Posting 27 double-figure scoring games, he compiled 733 career points (6.5 ppg). He scored career-best 27 points, twice: Texas (Jan. 28, 2023) and vs. Duke (March 18, 2023, NCAA). He adds 330 rebounds (3.8 rpg) as he recorded 37 games of five-plus and six games with 10-plus. He grabbed a career-best 14 boards against UT-Martin (Nov. 9, 2021). Overall, he notched four double-doubles.

Last season, Nkamhoua was the lone Volunteer to start all 36 games (25-11) as he averaged 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He led UT with 32 dunks while shooting 51.3 percent from the field. Highlighting 2022-23, he had a career-best 73 assists (2.0 apg), which was nearly three times more than any prior season.

Shooting 51.8 percent from the field for his career, Nkamhoua has expanded his game, draining 31 three-pointers over the last two seasons after making just one in his first two seasons. He made a career-best 18 triples last year and shot 36.4 percent.

In addition to his collegiate career, Nkamhoua continues to compete with the Finland National Team. He has more than seven International Friendlies under his belt, scoring in double figures in each game. In 2022, he played in four FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers and was a member of the 2016 FIBA U16 European Championship team.

With Nkamhoua’s addition, Michigan has brought in a graduate transfer in each of the last four seasons — guard Mike Smith (Columbia; 2020-21), guard DeVante’ Jones (Coastal Carolina; 2021-22), guard Joey Baker(Duke; 2022-23) and guard Jaelin Llewellyn (Princeton; 2022-23).

Former Wolverine guard Jaaron Simmons (Ohio) was U-M’s first ever grad transfer in 2017-18. Simmons, who currently serves as the Wolverines video analyst, helped the Maize and Blue a second straight Big Ten Tournament title as well as the Final Four (San Antonio) and national title game vs. Villanova.

Pronunciation: first: “OH-liv-ee-AY” | last: “KAHM-wuh”

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Michigan basketball officially adds a former Texas Tech/Alabama transfer

Michigan adds some versatility to the roster!

Michigan added the former Texas Tech and Alabama transfer Nimari Burnett in the transfer portal months back, but the Wolverines officially announced it on Thursday.

Burnett is a Chicago native and a former five-star recruit — who was a McDonald’s All-American. Burnett signed with Texas Tech coming out of high school, but eventually found his way to Alabama. He started nine games last year for the great Alabama basketball squad. Burnett averaged 5.6 points and two rebounds per game last season.

Burnett has the ability to play the ‘2’, ‘3’, or even ‘4’ if Michigan wants to play small.

You can read the entire press release below via MGoBlue:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — David and Meredith Kaplan U-M Basketball Head Coach Juwan Howard announced today (Friday, June 9) the addition of Chicago native and 6-4 guard Nimari Burnett as a graduate transfer for the 2023-24 season. Burnett becomes the third graduate transfer to join the Wolverines following the early addition of 6-9 forward Olivier Nkamhoua (Tennessee) and 6-10 forward Tray Jackson (Seton Hall).

“I have watched and gotten to know Nimari for several years,” said Howard. “He has that ‘feel’ for the game that is just unique. This is why he has continued to excel on both ends of the floor. We also love his length, toughness and passion for the game. Nimari’s work ethic and leadership is off the charts. We can’t wait for him to get here.”

“I’m very excited to become a part of the Michigan program,” said Burnett. “This is a great opportunity for me to learn from someone of Juwan’s caliber as well as from some of the best basketball minds in the country. I have heard so much about the Maize and Blue faithful and I am really looking forward to interacting with them, the Maize Rage and all the students on campus. If all goes well we could all have a special year.”

A Chicago native, Burnett spent his final three prep years at Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) where he was a Class of 2020 consensus top-40 player and five-star recruit. He was selected for the McDonald’s All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic before both all-star games were canceled due to COVID-19.

Beginning his collegiate career at Texas Tech, Burnett played 12 games off the bench before leaving the Raider program in January. He averaged 5.3 points and scored a season-best 12 points — going 7-for-7 on free throws — against Grambling (Dec. 6, 2020), while adding 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals.

Eventually transferring to Alabama, Burnett missed the entire 2021-22 season after electing to have surgery on his right knee. Making his return in 2022-23, he played in 27 games with nine starts for the Crimson Tide, who went on to record a 31-6 record and win the SEC regular-season and tournament titles. Earning the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament, Alabama fell to eventual national runner-up San Diego State in the Sweet 16.

Highlighted by five double-figure scoring games, Burnett posted a career-best 18 points against Jacksonville State (Nov. 18, 2022). He went on to average 5.6 points per game, adding 2.0 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game.

In addition to his collegiate play, Burnett helped USA Basketball win a historic first-ever gold medal at the 2019 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup, along with teammates Devin Askew (Cal), Dawson Garcia (UNC/Minnesota) and Ryan Morton (Purdue). He helped the USA to a perfect 7-0 record, scoring 40 points, which ranked second on Team USA and fifth among all competitors. A member of Team Attack, Burnett helped earn a qualifying spot after earning a gold medal (8-0) at the 2019 USA 3×3 U18 National Championship with Askew, Garcia and Morton.

With the additions of Burnett, Nkamhoua and Jackson, U-M has added seven graduate transfers over the last four seasons — guard Mike Smith (Columbia; 2020-21), guard DeVante’ Jones (Coastal Carolina; 2021-22), guard Joey Baker (Duke; 2022-23) and guard Jaelin Llewellyn (Princeton; 2022-23). Former Wolverine guard Jaaron Simmons (Ohio) was U-M’s first ever grad-transfer in 2017-18 and currently serves as the Wolverines’ video analyst.

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Michigan basketball officially adds Seton Hall transfer

Another solid addition to the team!

Michigan added Seton Hall transfer Tray Jackson a couple of months ago via the transfer portal, but the Wolverines made it official on Thursday.

Jackson, a Detroit native, will come to Ann Arbor as a graduate transfer. The 6-foot-10 forward has the capabilities of playing both the ‘4’ or ‘5’ and some ‘3’ if the Wolverines want to play big. Jackson averaged 6.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game last season off the bench for the Pirates.

You can read the entire press release via MGoBlue below:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — David and Meredith Kaplan U-M Basketball Head Coach Juwan Howard announced today (Thursday, June 8) the addition of Detroit native and 6-10 forward Tray Jackson as a graduate transfer for the 2023-24 season. Jackson is the second grad transfer to join the Maize and Blue following U-M’s addition of Olivier Nkamhoua (Tennessee) on Wednesday (June 7).

“Tray’s experiences, leadership and versatility makes him a very important addition for us,” said Howard. “We want him to continue to develop and grow his game, but we also need him to help his brothers with their games and skillsets. We just love his adaptability, which creates positive outcomes on both ends of the floor. He brings so much energy and has a great mind for the game.”

“When the opportunity to continue my career came up, I knew it was something I wanted to explore,” said Jackson. “When Juwan called, the chance to play under him, and do that in my home state and near my family, made it an easy decision. I want to make an impact, but I also want to serve and do whatever I can to help this program be successful.”

A Detroit native, Jackson spent a post-graduate prep year at Sunrise Christian Academy (Kansas) before heading to Missouri. Coming off the bench in 26 of 31 games, he averaged 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds before the postseason was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the season, Jackson elected to transfer to Seton Hall. After the NCAA allowed immediate transfer eligibility due to the pandemic, Jackson played in three games for the Pirates.

Primarily coming off the bench to start his junior campaign, Jackson started the final 13 games, giving him 18 total on the season. With 11 games in double figures, including a career-best 21 points, twice — against Nyack (Dec. 4, 2021) and at Georgetown (Feb. 1, 2022), he averaged 6.8 points per game. Adding 3.5 rebounds, he shot 39.5 percent from long range, knocking down 34 three-pointers.

Jackson was part of the Seton Hall squad who came to Ann Arbor (Nov. 16, 2021) and rallied to defeat U-M, 67-65, in the 2021 Gavitt Tipoff Games matchup at Crisler Center. He finished with 13 points (5-for-6 FGs), six rebounds and was 3-for-3 from the free throw line.

After Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard left to take over Maryland in 2022-23, Jackson stayed with the Pirates for his senior season. Coming off the bench in 29 games for new head coach Shaheen Holloway, Jackson averaged 6.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and drained 15 three-pointers.

A two-time Big East All-Academic team member, Jackson earned an Arts and Science degree from Seton Hall while playing in 90 games during his four-year career. He compiled 488 points (5.4 ppg), 227 rebounds (2.5 rpg) and made 55 three-pointers.

With the addition of Jackson and Nkamhoua, Michigan has brought in a graduate transfer in each of the last four seasons — guard Mike Smith (Columbia; 2020-21), guard DeVante’ Jones (Coastal Carolina; 2021-22), guard Joey Baker (Duke; 2022-23) and guard Jaelin Llewellyn (Princeton; 2022-23).

Former Wolverine guard Jaaron Simmons (Ohio) was U-M’s first ever grad-transfer in 2017-18. Simmons, who currently serves as the Wolverines’ video analyst, helped the Maize and Blue to a second-straight Big Ten Tournament title as well as the Final Four (San Antonio) and national title game vs. Villanova.

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