Michigan Basketball: Early look at the starting five for 2020-21

Small forward

Starter: Franz Wagner

Backups: Cole Bajema, Jace Howard

Franz Wagner and Brooks have one issue in common: consistency.

After an all-star night against a top-10 Oregon when he scored 21, Franz turned around against Presbyterian, and in 17 minutes, he amassed a total of three points. Three times Franz has hit double digits points, and the three games that followed he scored a combined 12 points.

It’s still early, and it’s not exactly like he’s had all season to prepare for the college game after a stint in a European professional league. Wagner fractured his wrist on his shooting hand and missed the early games, finally getting his start in late November against Iowa State in the Bahamas.

By the 2020-21 season, Franz will be a more complete player and should be one of, if not the top scorer on the team.

Behind him will be sophomore Cole Bajema and Juwan’s son Jace Howard. Cole was a four-star out of high school and was heralded as a high percentage shooter, but we haven’t seen much of that this year due to his restricted minutes.

Jace, outside of his dad’s notoriety, was a bit of an unknown until his dad offered him. Since then, he’s burst onto the scene and has received several Division I offers, as well as earning a three-star ranking and a 9004 composite rating.