Michigan Basketball: 3 Wolverines who should consider returning

Mike Smith

When you look at the roster, with the recruits coming in, the obvious weakness is in the backcourt and it could be at point guard.

Now, Zeb Jackson could take a huge step forward next season. He was a top-100 recruit in his own right, is a very talented shooter and one of the best athletes on the team already.

At the point or the two, Jackson is going to get some run in 2021-22. But is he ready to be the starting point guard? Is Frankie Collins, a true freshman?

It’s a risk playing a freshman point guard, but U-M did it back in 2014 with Derrick Walton Jr. and the Wolverines reached the Elite 8, so it can be done, especially with the talent surrounding that position.

The return of Smith would erase some of those question marks. But at the same time, would it hinder the development of others?

You can’t rely on transfers to play point guard forever. John Beilein was able to get a stellar line of them from Darius Morris, Trey Burke, Walton — all the way to Simpson. That’s from 2012-2019.

That’s one reason why Michigan basketball was so damn good under Beilein. Point guards are essential to winning games and while it would be nice to have Smith back, in the long run, it might not be bad to give those young guys the ball to see what they can do.