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Michigan Basketball: Depth chart projections for Wolverines post Franz

By Chris Peterson

Feb 25, 2021; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard and the bench reacts during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2021; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard and the bench reacts during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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While plenty of focus was on the NFL draft last weekend, the Michigan basketball team got some pretty good news Saturday, with the commitment of transfer DeVante Jones.

Jones is coming to Michigan basketball from Coastal Carolina. Last season, he was the Sun Belt Player of the Year and scored 19 points a game. He’s also grabbed more than seven rebounds and is a pretty solid defender too.

He chose the Wolverines over Texas, Texas Tech, and Memphis and Juwan Howard is certainly hoping to re-create the same magic he had in 2020-21 with transfers Mike Smith and Chaundee Brown.

Jones can play point guard, but he’s not just a point guard. He could see minutes in an off-guard role with someone like Frankie Collins rolling at the point guard.

Franz Wagner is entering the NBA draft, which means the roster is now set for the 2021-22 season.

And following the addition of Jones, a 6-foot-1 guard, here’s a look at the projected depth chart for Michigan basketball heading into next season.

PG: DeVante Jones, Frankie Collins, Eli Brooks

Jones said in one of his interviews that Juwan wanted him to come and run the team and I believe it. As good as Frankie Collins might be and already is, there’s a learning curve when it comes to being a point guard in the Big Ten.

And as talented as U-M can be next season, the Wolverines can’t rely solely on a freshman point guard. Collins might exceed expectations and I do expect him to have a sizeable role off the bench (15-20 mins) but Jones just makes the most sense.

Two years ago, when he was more of a point guard for Coastal Carolina, he scored less and focused much more on distributing. That’s something we’ll next season, although he also brings another effective ball-screen creator, which was huge.

Brooks might see time at point guard in emergency situations, he’s just better suited to being the two. But if say Kobe Bufkin is farther along in his development than Collins, who’s to say Brooks doesn’t shift to the one, while Jones is resting, to give Bufkin minutes.

There are a lot of things at play, but I see Jones playing the most minutes at point guard for Michigan in 2021-22.

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