Michigan Basketball: Coaches, teammates rave about Chaundee Brown

Whether or not Chaundee Brown suits up for Michigan basketball this season is still unknown. But as practices are set to start next week, several people inside the program continue to rave about the Wake Forest transfer.

Chaundee Brown has had no trouble fitting in with his new Michigan basketball teammates. Coaches and fellow players have all spoken very highly of the former three year starter for Wake Forest.

Head coach Juwan Howard spoke to the media this week and echoed a lot of the same things we’ve been hearing for weeks.

“Amazing personality. Fun to be around. He’s a worker. He’s also a competitor. He’s shown that playing in the ACC for three years. He fits. He fits the Michigan culture,” Howard said on Wednesday.”

Michigan will be replacing their senior leaders from last year, Xavier Simpson and Jon Teske. Brown will be called upon to be one of the leaders for this year’s team and Howard doesn’t think that will be an issue.

When talking about the leadership on this team, Howard mentioned Brown and several others who he has confidence in to lead.

“I can always look at a guy like Isaiah Livers, Austin Davis, Eli Brooks and also Franz Wagner. They all have great leadership qualities. We don’t have a shortage of leaders or leadership within this group. Mike Smith, who is another guy that’s been through the trenches before and spent four years at Columbia. You also can’t leave out a guy like Chaundee, who is a fourth-year senior who has played since his freshman year and started.” 

Brown will likely play most of his minutes at the shooting guard spot this season. He could potentially start there or be the sixth man behind Eli Brooks. He’s a physical player and has great size for a two-guard.

Michigan assistant coach Phil Martelli spoke about Chaundee Brown this week to Chris Balas from TheWolverine($):

"“Chaundee … you know how people will say, ‘that dude’s a man?’ Well, he’s got a man’s body and a man’s approach to the game. He can really score the ball … can really, really, really score. He had a great body, and while I think he needs to improve as a long-range shooter, he has a good, healthy IQ, which you need to play in this style. You have to have a high IQ.”"

Brown will provide Michigan with a different look from that shooting guard spot than what we’ve seen in year’s past. He’s a capable 3-point shooter but he loves to do his damage by attacking the rim and being a slasher off the ball.

I think his game is very comparable to what we saw a few years ago with Charles Matthews.

It’s also not just the coaches that have had high praise for Brown. Michigan freshman Jace Howard had some great things to say about Brown while appearing on an episode of The Michigan Basketball Insider with Tim McCormick:

"“Chaundee is that dude. He’s every bit of 225, 230, he’s a strong and solid dude. His jump shot is pure, it’s water. He gets to the rim real easy. He’s a smart player as well. His defensive IQ and offensive IQ is through the roof. He’s something that you want to watch out for, especially when we’re playing in practice a little bit with the time we were allowed. He was doing his thing. Competing hard on both ends and teaching us young guys because, you know, he’s on the older side. Teaching us his tricks and his view of the game is huge for us because it’s a big jump. Chaundee, he’s been killing. He’s looking like LeBron out there.”"

Will we see Brown this season for Michigan basketball? Juwan Howard said that the waiver process will be submitted soon. With about a month and a half until Michigan’s season will likely begin, we should have answers soon.

I would be shocked if Brown is not granted his waiver for eligibility this season. With his former coach getting fired at Wake Forest and with the Covid-19 pandemic, this seems like it will be a pretty straight forward process once everything is submitted.

So as of now, it’s a safe bet to assume Brown will be playing this season. His leadership, experience, and scoring will be counted on for Michigan basketball to reach their ceiling.