Michigan Basketball: 3 reasons getting Franz Wagner is huge

Michigan basketball got a commitment from German star Franz Wagner as Juwan Howard announced Saturday, here’s why he will be a huge addition.

On Saturday, Michigan basketball fans got the news they have been waiting a long time for and that was the announcement that Franz Wagner is officially coming to Ann Arbor.

Wagner has been on the minds of Michigan fans for months, dating back to John Beilein. The German star, who will turn 18 years old in August, visited the school the day Beilein announced he was going to the Cavaliers, so at times, landing him seemed like a long shot.

However, assistant Saddi Washington, who was key in the development of Moritz Wagner, Franz’s older brother, who led Michigan basketball to the national championship game, helped in a huge way.

Moritz talked openly about how he wanted his brother to have the same college experience that he did, yet, he had no connection to the new staff outside of Washington. That relationship had to be important, along with Howard selling himself to Franz Wagner.

Unlike his older brother, Franz comes to America as a highly-touted prospect and one that could be a first-round pick as soon as the 2020 NBA draft. That could have been true whether he came to play for Michigan basketball or not.

He’s also a completely different player than his brother, even though he arrives at 6-foot-8. He’s an outstanding 3-point shooter and a perfect fit for Michigan’s current roster. Here are the three reasons why his addition is so important for the Wolverines.