Michigan Basketball: Gauging Cole Bajema’s impact next season

Michigan basketball commit Cole Bajema announced that his commitment was solid and that he would play for head coach Juwan Howard.

Since Juwan Howard was officially announced as the head coach of Michigan basketball, things have been moving quickly.

Howard is obviously focused on building his staff and on Thursday, he announced on Twitter that he would be retaining strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson. Then, late Friday, Cole Bajema, the lone member of Michigan basketball’s 2019 recruiting class, reaffirmed his commitment.

Bajema had been silent about the hiring of Howard as Michigan basketball coach until he put out this statement on Twitter:

It’s great news for the Wolverines who couldn’t afford to lose the only player still left in their incoming recruiting class. There have been some positive signs with Jalen Wilson, who asked for his release from Michigan after John Beilein left but most guys that de-commit don’t come back.

Keeping Bajema in the fold will be key and if Michigan goes into the season with three open scholarships, he could find his way onto the floor sooner than expected. UM has some nice pieces coming back but few 3-point shooters.

Isaiah Livers was the top 3-point shooter from last year and Jon Teske turned into a decent 3-point shooter or at least one with potential but after that, there isn’t much. Like Teske, Zavier Simpson shot around 30 from deep and while he may improve, along with Teske, others like Bajema need to step up.

While Michigan might have more 3-point shooters than some realize with Adrien Nunez, Brandon Johns and David DeJulius all having the potential to take big leaps as sophomores. However, there is also the potential for Bajema to make an immediate impact.

Unless Howard goes after graduate transfer Jaevin Cumberland, he will have to find a starting guard on the roster and the best options appear to be Nunez, Eli Brooks, Dejulius and Bajema.

Brooks and Dejulius are the most experienced and DeJulius was a really good shooter in high school. He has some offensive abilities that we didn’t really see last season with so little playing time. The problem is that like Zavier Simpson, DeJulius are both about 6-foot-1. That could pose some issues defensively. Brooks is also that same height.

Nunez has more of a guards body at 6-foot-5 and he has a very good shooting touch. He played sparingly last season but could be a true darkhorse candidate. Either way, he and Bajema will both see the floor as two of the best spacing options on the roster.

Another thing that makes me believe Bajema will play is his ability to create. He also shoots the ball really well off ball screens and is good at finding open teammates. He also makes a variety of shots consistently in his highlight videos coming off screens or pulling up off the bounce.

Having another option that can be used for the pick-and-roll, especially a guy capable of making that jumper is key. The biggest worry with him is that he has a thin frame.

Sanderson can get to work adding some weight and getting him ready for the Big Ten. The truth is he needs to be. If Michigan basketball doesn’t add any other pieces, it will need shooters and guys that space the floor and outside of Nunez, Bajema could be the best option on the roster.