Michigan Basketball: Cautious optimism believes Isaiah Livers returns too

Livers is the presumptive final domino to drop to accurately portray what the lineup could look like next season for Michigan basketball.

Sophomore to be Franz Wagner announced on Thursday that he will be returning to Michigan basketball for another year which was a surprise to very few. The attention quickly flips over to Isaiah Livers who has until May 24 to decide whether or not he wants to stay in the pros or come back to college.

As of today Livers is nowhere to be found on several mock drafts. He is being referenced in the top 100 or so, but as we know, only 60 get picked. That bodes well for his chances of coming back to Michigan basketball for his senior year. He’s a no-brainer starter along with Wagner and Eli Brooks, while the other spots are up for debate with a good understanding of who fills those minutes.

Brandon Johns will be ready to step in as he did this past season if Livers remains in the draft. He showed enough glimpses to show that he can be counted on when his number gets called as a starter. Besides Johns Jr., names that might fill in for the reserve minutes include Cole Bajema, Terrance Williams, Jace Howard and Adrian Nunez.

Livers only appeared in 21 contests but was a clear difference maker when on the court. In the month he was absent the Wolverines suffered their longest losing streak. Albeit the schedule ramped up, it just wasn’t the same without him out there. He’s the glue that makes them go and that cannot be argued.

The fact that Livers is not hiring an agent is also another positive sign. He said it himself that if he doesn’t acquire a guaranteed contract, that he’ll go back to school to receive his education. Plus going back to college can only help his draft stock, unless he gets injured again or something else happens. Getting the season cut short didn’t sit well with him either.

The unknown certainty of finishing the current NBA campaign should weigh in on his plans too. Not having a combine will certainly hurt his options of pursuing his dreams of performing in the league as well. For players like Livers in this draft, they need all the eyeballs on them that they can have for the events that were supposed to happen leading up to the process.

A lot of changes could occur between now and then, but until the situation, we’re all in somehow gets better, it just doesn’t feel like Livers will keep his name in the draft.

I have been wrong before and I’m not an expert on this, however, my instincts say that he goes back to Michigan to earn his diploma and takes care of some unfinished business that he and his teammates are working towards.