Michigan basketball suffered another loss as guard Cole Bajema has entered the transfer portal according to reports.
Just when you thought things weren’t going to get any worse, word surfaced of another departure from the Michigan basketball team.
While most expected the Wolverines to be done with roster attrition after Colin Castleton and David DeJulius, more transfer news hit Tuesday as Brendan Quinn of The Athletic tweeted that Cole Bajema has entered the transfer portal.
Michigan freshman Cole Bajema is in the transfer portal, per the transfer portal.
— Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn) May 6, 2020
Appeared in 9 games as a freshman, played 37 minutes. Imagine he’ll look to move closer to home (Lynden, WA). A 6-foot-7 guard with three years of eligibility remaining.
It’s another twist for an eventful Michigan basketball offseason. The Wolverines missed out on key recruits Josh Christopher and Isaiah Todd and the only addition has been Columbia graduate transfer Mike Smith.
The incoming 2020 class has three really solid prospects in Hunter Dickinson, Terrance Williams and Zeb Jackson, as well as Jace Howard who has been underrated.
With Bajema on the roster, the need for guys like Jackson or Williams to contribute right away might have been lessened, but now the pressure will be on Jackson to contribute right away. He will essentially need to backup both the one and the two.
In his first season, Bajema, a 6-foot-7 wing was 4-of-7 from 3-point range but saw limited action last season. He would seem to be in line for more minutes next season, especially with his ability to shoot the ball, but the lack of offseason may have hurt his chances along with the return of Franz Wagner.
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Even with Wagner returning, the Wolverines could have used another shooter on the wing, now that role could fall to Williams, who could have an Isaiah-Livers type impact as a freshman.
The loss of Bajema would also drop Michigan basketball down to 11 scholarships total. Of course, Juwan Howard could be more active on the transfer market but most of the best players are no longer available.
It will be interesting to see if Michigan get involved in more transfers now. If not, the 2021 class is going to get really big.
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