Michigan Basketball: Jalen Coleman-Lands makes perfect sense

Michigan basketball made the top five for graduate transfer Jalen Coleman-Lands over the weekend and here’s why he makes perfect sense for the Wolverines.

A couple of months ago, Michigan basketball didn’t seem like it would have much interest or even a need in pursuing much in the transfer market.

Back then, Michigan basketball was basically already at its scholarship limit with commitments and the idea that Josh Christopher going to come made it seem even less likely that the Wolverines would even need a graduate transfer.

But then things started to change. Michigan showed interest in multiple point guards, including Mike Smith who eventually committed and signed with the Wolverines.

Smith’s addition became vitally important once David DeJulius put his name into the transfer portal. Colin Castleton soon followed, but then, Cole Bajema, also entered the portal, which was sort of late in the process, leaving Michigan even thinner in the backcourt.

More from GBMWolverine

• 3 things to watch for Michigan football vs. Rutgers
• Michigan football vs. Rutgers: Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 4
• Michigan Wolverines news: Jim Harbaugh wants J.J. McCarthy ‘gunslinging’, plus a drop in recruiting rankings
• Grades, game balls for Michigan football vs. Bowling Green
• Michigan Wolverines news: Jake Moody is money in the NFL, plus more

The loss of Bajema also took away one of Michigan’s top 3-point shooters. Most of that was based on potential, but there is no doubt that if there was one way Cole could have contributed next season, it would have been with his 3-point shot.

The other thing that hurts about the timing of Bajema’s exit, is that it left Juwan Howard with very few options to get immediate help next season. One of the final options remaining is Depaul transfer Jalen Coleman-Lands, who put Michigan in his final five this past weekend.

The former top-40 recruit and four-star player, spent two years at Illinois and two years with the Blue Demons, averaging 11.1 points per game a year ago. Right now, he’s the top available among graduate transfers via ESPN and that’s one reason why getting Coleman-Lands is essential.

Simply put, the Wolverines likely won’t have any other legitimate options, at least none like Coleman-Lands, who is an experienced player with a 3-point shot. He’s played in the Big Ten and the Big East, so in that regard, he has even fewer questions about his ability to produce than Smith.

How Coleman-Lands will fit is debatable. Ideally, Smith would be able to win the point guard job, pushing Eli Brooks to the two again. However, in my view, if Coleman-Lands came, the last starting spot would come down to the two transfers.

Brooks would start either way. He could play point guard alongside Coleman-Lands or start at shooting guard as he did last season. Yet, even if Coleman-Lands comes off the bench, he could be a valuable piece for Howard.

Some of that may depend on how well he shoots the ball from deep. But, since he wouldn’t need to be the focal point of the offense, he could look for more efficient shots, which should help his percentage. Here’s what Dylan Burkhardt of UMHoops ($) says about his possible role:

"“He shot 32% from 3-point range but took a lot of contested shots and was the only shooter in DePaul’s offense — and he’s a one-dimensional player. He fits the roster well given his size (6-foot-4) and position. He’d be arguably the only true shooting guard on the roster but wouldn’t add a significant amount of playmaking, ball handling, or defense to the mix.”"

That analysis leads me to believe he’d fill a role off the bench. You’d hope that Howard could improve his defense, but Michigan basketball could use another floor spacer and someone with a 6-foot-4 frame, plus Big-Ten experience wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Furthermore, the fact that Coleman-Lands is sort of a one-trick pony won’t hurt long term because he’d be playing for one season. So using one of two scholarships for a year, that is otherwise likely to go unused otherwise wouldn’t hurt a thing. It would still save room for a transfer who has to sit out a year, which leaves Howard some flexibility.

Most likely, at this point, It’s Coleman-Lands or bust in terms of shooting guard help, so it’s critical that the Wolverines beat out Iowa State, North Carolina State, USC and California for him.