Michigan Basketball: 3 Wolverines who need to step after 5-star misses

Hunter Dickinson

Head coach Juwan Howard is going to have his work cut out for him, but let’s remember, Michigan still has the No. 1 recruiting class in the Big Ten according to 247 sports 2020 class rankings and the top overall commit in the class in four-star center Hunter Dickinson, who is 32nd overall.

The 7-foot-2 center is a dominant low-post presence and he should be able to come in and get buckets right away, even in the Big Ten. The concern with him is going to be pick-and-roll defense and also going up against the physical competition in the Big Ten.

Dickinson looks up to it, but there’s a difference between being a guy that gets 15-20 minutes a night and someone who gets 30 and makes a real impact in year one. Dickinson is the top recruit now for Michigan basketball and he needs to play like it.

The starting center job could likely come down to Dickinson and Brandon Johns and either way, Dickinson is going to be counted on for key minutes and offense in the low post. He can shoot and pass to, although he’s not a 3-point threat.

Michigan still has some interesting pieces and if Wagner and Livers are back, and these other pieces can develop alongside them, the Wolverines still have the makings of a Big Ten title contender.