Michigan Basketball: Dark Horse candidate for Wolverine hoops in 2020

Losing two starters and possibly another, Michigan basketball is in desperate need of a star to emerge from within. Here is the dark horse candidate.

Every now and then, an athlete will go from unremarkable to one of the best in their game. It’s not just basketball; it happens across all sports. Guys like James Conner, for example. Conner had one outstanding season at Pitt, a missing year, and then mediocrity before he graduated. Picked up in the third round by the Steelers, James was given a chance, and he became a highly sought after RB. For Michigan basketball, it doesn’t always happen within Crisler.

No one could have predicted Duncan Robinson’s rise to the top in the NBA. As arguably the league’s best three-point shooter, Duncan’s story from Division III to raking in millions is a future box office film or at least a compelling 30 for 30.

Either way, Duncan is the standard for dark horse candidates, and I don’t think this dark horse entirely lives up to Robinson’s legend.

We are talking about Brandon Johns Jr., of course. Brandon might not have been an unranked, anonymous high school kid. He came highly regarded from Michigan State’s backyard as a four-star that was named Mr. Basketball.

The high school success hasn’t transferred over to the college game, however. There have been spurts that leave you wondering why he doesn’t play more, but those seem to come and go. Sometimes you see the hunger and desire, and sometimes you get comatose Johns.

For his junior year, you will get the dark horse, breakthrough, and whatever else you want to call him, Brandon Johns Jr.

The Johns that wants to win more than he wants to eat, or sleep, or…

As the sixth man in 2019, Brandon sat behind the forward combination of Franz Wagner and Isaiah Livers. Franz is back, and the reports are not favorable for Livers to the NBA. His stock is low, despite his elite accuracy from deep, and he would be, arguably, the best player on a young team in 2020.

So why his backup?

Brandon will find a way to improve upon his six points and four rebounds per game in any capacity. He’s a versatile forward, capable of much more than what we’ve seen.

If you look at the depth chart, Brandon could easily replace Wagner or Livers, and, with a smaller opposition lineup, at the five. Johns thrived at center against Oregon.

There’s also the chance that Livers decides he will try his hand at the NBA. In that case, Brandon is a starter with the opportunity for an early entry into the 2021 NBA draft. Work hard in the offseason, and the scouts might come around.