Michigan Basketball: Resetting the Wolverines roster movement

With all of their respective intentions now out of the bag, the forthcoming season for Michigan Basketball is shimmering with hungry championship aspirations.

The reigning regular-season Big Ten champions are well into the offseason with the usual transition period that faces nearly every program this time of year.

Four starters and a reserve from Juwan Howard’s rapidly growing program are letting their declarations be heard for the NBA. That leaves a heap of space for new blood to seize the opportunities left behind by those who are departing for the next pasture in their basketball lives.

Mike Smith, Franz Wagner, Isaiah Livers, Chaundee Brown and Austin Davis have all expressed that they are all finalizing their careers in a Michigan basketball uniform. Hunter Dickinson is testing the waters of the NBA but is widely regarded to return for a sophomore season in Ann Arbor.

As of this moment, experts have him being selected in the second round, so the wise choice would be to have one more go-around in college for the generational seven-foot phenom.

Transfer DeVante’ Jones is arriving with his skills from Coastal Carolina to be next year’s version of Mike Smith. He had a flourishing career as a Chanticleer, as he attempts to play the role about as well as Smith did at point guard for a season in the ultra-competitive Big Ten conference.

Not to worry though as the Sun Belt player of the year has the game to be well equipped to thrive continuously even with the ramp-up in competition.

Eli Brooks is the lone starter to remain on campus for one more run at glory. He is hands down the glue that holds this group together. He’s the prototypical combo guard that compliments the rest of the lineup when all is clicking. His defense is invaluable and his leadership will play a pivotal role in how far this bunch can go come next March.

Michigan basketball has the No. 1 recruiting class

Then there are two of the most well-known names in the recruiting cycle that are signed, sealed, and delivered to Michigan.

The wait to see Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate on the court in Crisler is hitting heights of hysteria that this program has had the pleasure of experiencing over the past decade or so.

Houstan appears to be in a better position to start day one, but anything can happen between now and then.

Others who will be asked to contribute are Brandon Johns, Terrance Williams, Frankie Collins, Kobe Bufkin, and Isaiah Barnes, just to name a few.

The early outlook for 2022 is to earn another postseason championship banner to raise for the ages and continue the prominent trend upward to become a consistent national power in college basketball.