Michigan Basketball: Can Franz Wagner have more success than Moritz?

Now that Franz Wagner is joining Michigan basketball, the pressure will be on to perform and live up to his brother’s legacy in Ann Arbor.

The 6-foot-7 wing from Germany is being considered by some as a four/five-star prospect in the states. He can stroke the three with relative ease and has a natural feel for the game that can only trend upwards with Michigan basketball.

Watching his film, you can see why John Beilein recruited him for his system. Wagner can create his own shot and is a flat out shooter that was lacking on the current roster. He’s got an excellent chance to start from day one.

Michigan basketball already has essentially three starters returning from last year’s team in Zavier Simpson, Jon Teske and Isaiah Livers and Wagner will give the Wolverines a fourth player that is proven. He can step in and help fill the void left by Ignas Brazdeikis and Jordan Poole.

Lofty expectations will definitely follow him wherever he goes. He played in a ton of games while overseas which earned him the award of German Young Player of the Year. His 2018 squad placed gold at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament. His standout performance came on March 16 while facing Orange Academy Ratiopharm with 37 points. He also showed improvement as the season progressed.

His brother, Moritz Wagner, who led Michigan basketball to the national title in April 2018, began his time with the Wolverines slowly but eventually worked his way to the likable character that Michigan fans know today.

Franz will likely have to play early because of the departures of Poole and Iggy. So he almost certainly has the opportunity to achieve bigger things then his brother did in his first year at Michigan.

He also comes in much more seasoned than his brother, who never made the top level at Alba Berlin as Franz did this past season, where he showed an exceptional 3-point shooting touch. That skill, more than any other, is what this team needs.

This is a significant signing for Juwan Howard regardless. It helps heal the sting of losing Jalen Wilson to Kansas and fills a void in the lineup instantaneously.

The accolades are a welcome sight, but the work to exceed Moe’s accomplishments at Michigan basketball in his little brother’s hands now. Nonetheless, it is going to be a must-watch campaign from the get-go that might just go down as another memorable run that all Michigan supporters can be proud of.