Michigan Basketball: Jordan Poole makes move to NBA draft official

The Michigan basketball program announced Tuesday that former starter Jordan Poole will keep his name in the NBA draft and will not return.

When Michigan basketball fans think about Jordan Poole, there will be some mixed emotions. He made an incredible shot during his career but also left us all wanting much, much more.

Following the Wolverines loss to Texas Tech in the Sweet 16, Poole, who was a full-time starter for the first time with Michigan basketball last season, announced his decision to test the NBA waters and hire an agent.

Of course, if he chose to return to Michigan, he would still have a chance to do that. However, after some reports of Poole making money off appearances and things leading up to the draft, the University announced recently that his move the NBA was official. He will not return to the Wolverines.

The report comes via Nick Baumgardner of the Detroit Free Press, who cited the University.

Certainly, this was expected. After all the tension between head coach John Beilein and Poole, it was clear that he thought the best move for his basketball future was going pro and in the end, he could be right.

Whether or not Poole gets drafted with one of the 60 picks on draft night remains to be seen, however, with his skill set and upside, he would be a perfect candidate for the G-League and a two-way contract.

Even in that scenario, he would get paid and would be a full-time professional with more chances to develop his game for the NBA. Yet, it’s hard to see the league passing on his talent, especially when there times this year when he was talked about as a first-round pick.

No matter what happens with Poole at the next level, Michigan basketball fans will always have this:

Following a great run early in the season against Purdue and North Carolina, Poole started to garner more NBA draft attention. But when the season was over, he barely averaged over 12 points a game but did shoot 36.7 percent from 3-point range, as well as 43 percent overall.

Yet, many of his metrics declined. He didn’t shoot the ball as well, didn’t get to the basket as much and wasn’t as efficient. He was a better player but there are still doubts about how much he can really grow.

Poole would have benefited from another year with Michigan basketball but he chose to bet on himself and all we can do is see how it plays out. Now, Michigan has at the ability to add at least one scholarship to the roster and that will extend to two if Ignas Brazdeikis doesn’t return.