Is Zeb Jackson the answer for Michigan Basketball at point guard?

The Wolverines lost a great one in Zavier Simpson and yet Michigan basketball appears to be in good hands with freshman Zeb Jackson heading to Ann Arbor.

With the previous administration, there was always a flawless transition with point guards. Michigan basketball discovered its perfect mold for the floor general and they never deviated, moving from Trey Burke to Derrick Walton to Zavier Simpson. There was rarely a question as to who would take over.

Even though new faces began calling the shots, the mold had already been well-established, and the responsibility to become the next primary ball handler was going to fall to the guy who fits the mold to a T.

Until it didn’t. That guy left.

And so the search and the competition must go on without him and possibly in a different direction.

It’s been a tradition in Ann Arbor to employ a PG that thrives on defense and is capable on offense, at least outside of Burke who was almost equal on both ends of the court. Still, the starter is supposed to be a lockdown, award-winning type defender and not the first option to sink a shot.

As Juwan Howard ventured into the transfer market, that mold wasn’t in his mind. He went out and recruited a prolific scoring point guard in grad transfer Mike Smith. A guy who on seven occasions throughout his college career put up more than 30 points on the scoreboard. A guy who took 580 shots during the 2019-20 season, which nearly doubled Zavier Simpson’s total during that same span.

Mike is the obvious starter and is potentially setting the tone for future U-M PGs. He’s got one year left of eligibility and is looking to upgrade his competition and teammates for one last go. Smith must be the guy to lead the team, you don’t transfer unless you know you’re going to start.

But then again, there are no guarantees in life. Mike must stay ahead of his competition, which is easier said than done.

There are several options for Juwan Howard and Co. to select from including Eli Brooks, and transfers Brandon Wade and Nojel Eastern – if he’s eligible. But there is someone else who fits the Mike Smith mold. Someone who trained with Zavier and his dad Quincy. Someone who can score from anywhere on the court. Someone who Michigan fans haven’t yet seen perform.