Michigan Basketball: Wolverines after point guard in the transfer portal

Michigan basketball is in contact with another point guard in the transfer portal and here’s a look at how Sahvir Wheeler would fit. 

While Michigan basketball is going hard after DeVante Jones of Coastal Carolina, a guard in the transfer portal, he’s not the only target for head coach Juwan Howard.

It was reported by Jeff Borzell of ESPN that Michigan basketball was one of a number of programs that’s been in contact with former Georgia guard Sahvir Wheeler.

Wheeler is a 5-foot-10 point guard who scored 14 points a game last season before entering the portal. He also averaged more than seven assists.

There are some big names along with Michigan, such as Kentucky, Gonzaga, Kansas, Texas, and even LSU. Oregon State is also fresh off an Elite 8 appearance just like the Wolverines.

It’s no wonder that Michigan basketball is interested but there are some interesting things to note about Wheeler who has two years of eligibility and three if he really wanted to use them all since last year didn’t count against eligibility.

Wheeler is 5-foot-10 and he’s a true point guard as he led the SEC with 7.4 assists per game. However, his defensive ratings aren’t spectacular in terms of points allowed per possession, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t play better defense at Michigan.

Mike Smith wasn’t known as a great defender either and he held up just fine. The one thing Wheeler can do, just like Smith, is create shots for others.

Eli Brooks can play point guard if needed, but he’s not a tremendous shot creator. The Wolverines don’t have anyone that’s necessarily proven as a shot creator and while guys like Kobe Bufkin, Frankie Collins, and Zeb Jackson will do some of that, we don’t know how successful they will be.

But that’s why Wheeler makes a lot of sense. If you surround him with guys like Brooks, Caleb Houstan, Hunter Dickinson, and other talented scorers, he could do some special things.

2022 center includes Michigan in top 8

Jalen Duren is the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2022 class and the top priority at center for the Wolverines, but he may go pro instead of playing college so another to keep an eye on is four-star center Donovan Clingan out of Connecticut.

Clingan is ranked 42nd overall but included Michigan basketball in his top 8 on Monday and right now, it feels like UCONN and Michigan are the two teams to beat.

Juwan Howard’s rep with coaching big men appears to be helping and we’ll see, but the Wolverines are one of the 2-3 favorites.