Michigan Basketball: Updated starting lineup projection for Wolverines

Starting point guard: Eli Brooks

I get being excited about Mike Smith, I mean the dude did score over 22 points per game last season playing in the Ivy League for Columbia. But remember, the Ivy League is not the Big Ten and as talented as Smith is, he’s still only 5-foot-11.

That’s why I don’t see Smith as Michigan’s starting point guard in 2020-21. He will play a bunch and he will prove to be the most effective player on the roster in ball screens, which will demonstrate his value, however, his defense could be a liability.

In the role that David DeJulius played last season, but with more minutes and ball-handling responsibilities, Smith could have a really good season in Ann Arbor. Yet, Brooks was recruited to Michigan as a point guard and started a game there last season.

As a shooting guard, Eli Brooks averaged over 10 points a game and shot the ball well from 3-point range. He will need to improve in ball screens and as a facilitator, yet his defense and overall fit at any place in the backcourt makes him the ideal starting point guard for a team filled with versatile talents.