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Michigan Basketball: 2 Transfer possibilities for 2020-21 season

By Matthew Helmkamp

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: Mike Smith #21 of the Columbia Lions handles the ball on offense against the St. John's Red Storm at Carnesecca Arena on November 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: Mike Smith #21 of the Columbia Lions handles the ball on offense against the St. John's Red Storm at Carnesecca Arena on November 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

Mike Smith

Columbia’s Mike Smith, the Ivy League’s leading scorer, wasn’t a heralded recruit. He didn’t have the stars and attention playing at Fenwink High School in Oak Park, IL – a suburb of Chicago.

Boy did he make a fool out of the major recruiting websites. As a freshman, he burst onto the scene with double-digit scoring and 3.5 assists per game.

Smith continued that kind of production into his sophomore year, but just a few games into his third year, disaster struck. Mike suffered season-ending meniscus injury.

No one knew how well post-injury Smith would do or if he would fully recover. In many cases, basketball players come back a little different from a knee injury. The quickness that once existed is no longer present, or their cuts aren’t as concise. That didn’t happen with Smith.

Coming back for his final season as a Lion, Smith averaged 22.8 points, and he shot 47% from inside the arc and 34% from outside.

Smith is quick, he has master level control over the ball, and he’s tough. His game is reminiscent of Jameer Nelson, a protege of Wolverines associate head coach Phil Martelli. Smith doesn’t have the highlight reel assists, but their scoring game is similar.

It’s come down to two final schools for Mike: Arizona and Michigan.

If you’re looking for a new school and you see the new documentary The Scheme on HBO, you might shy away from Arizona. Michigan basketball might have a leg up over the competition.

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