Michigan Basketball: Jaevin Cumberland is the shooter Wolverines need

Michigan basketball will host Jaevin Cumberland for a visit and here is what the Oakland graduate transfer could bring to the Wolverines.

With Jordan Poole leaving Michigan basketball for the NBA draft, the Wolverines need to find some shooting and one of the best prospects to fill that hole in the roster is Oakland guard Jaevin Cumberland.

Cumberland is a graduate transfer that started for one season at Oakland, which is right down the road from the Wolverines. He has already visited Oregon and is being pursued by North Carolina State too, yet Cumberland is planning to visit Michigan basketball soon according to Sam Webb of the Michigan Insider.

Cumberland has been mentioned since the Wolverines missed out on Justin Pierce last week and it makes a lot of sense as to why. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 17.2 points per game last season and shot 39.9 percent from 3-point range.

There are some questions about Cumberland, especially considering he started only one season in Oakland but he appears to have the shooting skills that UM desperately needs.

Cumberland excels as a spot-up shooter and that would be an ideal complement for Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske, who will be the focus of the offense with the pick-and-roll.

But as last season showed, Michigan needs to be able to space the floor and right now, the Wolverines have a big hole in Poole’s old starting spot. Isaiah Livers can fill the starting role of Charles Matthews or Ignas Brazdeikis, leaving Poole’s old spot and another spot at forward or on the wing.

However, Michigan is set at forward and on the wing. Brandon Johns and Colin Castleton could both take big steps forward and potentially start at the four for UM. Johns is more athletic and has a more versatile game, but Castleton also has a lot to work with. Either way, they should see plenty of minutes. Jalen Wilson, Michigan’s top-50 incoming freshman that is 6-foot-8, should also see the floor a lot.

If Cumberland came on board, he could easily start alongside Simpson, Livers, Johns and Teske. Wilson could also start at small forward, with Livers being the four, but regardless, the Wolverines need more shooting and the grad transfer would be a perfect fit.

In addition to being a great spot-up shooter, he is also tremendous coming off screens and shoots the ball much better off the dribble than either Poole or Brazdeikis. Adrien Nunez is another potential candidate to start but depth is required.

Michigan basketball has some talented players in the fold, even with the loss of Matthews, Iggy and Poole, however, it needs more shooting and that’s one thing that should translate for Cumberland, who was 4-of-6 from deep against Michigan State last season.

The fact that John Beilein is bringing him in for a visit is serious and if Cumberland wants to join a winning program, the Wolverines appear to be his best option.