Michigan Basketball: Predicting who returns and starts next season

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 12: Eli Brooks #55 of the Michigan Wolverines looks to drive the ball as D'Mitrik Trice #0 of the Wisconsin Badgers defends during the second half of the game at Crisler Arena on January 12, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Wisconsin 77-54. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Small forward: Caleb Houstan

While Michigan basketball is going to losing a first-round pick in Franz Wagner to the NBA draft, the Wolverines will be getting a future first-round pick in Caleb Houstan.

Houstan is an elite shooter and some have said he’s the best 3-point shooter in the entire 2021 recruiting class. He’s a lot like Isaiah Livers and if the roster construction worked, he could easily be the starting four too.

Certainly, there will be times he could play there and if Michigan basketball does have Brooks and Brown back, you could see a lineup with a young guard, Brooks, Brown, Houstan and Dickinson.

There’s a good chance that Houstan could be a one-and-done kind of player and even though it is rare for freshmen to start and excel in the Big Ten, Houstan isn’t your normal freshman.

Brown will see minutes at this spot and others such as Terrance Williams or Jace Howard could too, but for my money, whether anyone else returns or not, this job will be Houstan’s.

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