Michigan Basketball: Wolverines still stocked with NBA talent

Michigan basketball had two players drafted in Thursday’s NBA draft and that trend should continue next year in the 2022 NBA draft.

Going back over the last 10 NBA drafts, Michigan basketball has produced 12 picks including nine that went in the first round.

Not only is this one of the best numbers overall in the country but it is the highest number in the Big Ten as Michigan basketball’s nine first-round picks well out-paces both Indiana and Michigan State, which both have five.

Of course, Michigan doesn’t just send players to the NBA it has won a lot over the past decade too. Michigan has made two national championship games, four Elite 8 appearances, and six trips to the Sweet 16.

Franz Wagner turned into the ninth first-round pick when was picked 8th overall by the Magic, yet he didn’t go quite as high as Tractor Traylor back in 1998.  Isaiah Livers was the second player drafted when Detroit selected him early in the second round and according to some mock drafts, the output for U-M could be very similar in 2022.

Mock drafts by the Bleacher Report and ESPN have incoming freshman Caleb Houstan going in the top 10. ESPN has him fifth, while B/R has him going 8th to the Spurs:

"“Caleb Houstan looks poised for a productive freshman season after averaging 17.0 points during the U19 World Cup and leading Canada to the semis. He should slide right in for Isaiah Livers and Franz Wagner on Michigan’s wing. The 6’8″, 205-pound Houstan stands out for his positional size and advanced shooting, and he’s become a threatening scorer by driving by closeouts and converting body-controlled finishes. He’ll enter the draft with a three-and-D label and a high floor, with scouts hoping for more development from him as a creator.”"

Transfer point guard DeVante Jones is also projected by ESPN to get drafted at 58th overall and the former Sun Belt Player of the Year will be another key addition to the Wolverines.

Two other names that could get NBA draft buzz are sophomore big man Hunter Dickinson and freshman big Moussa Diabate. Moussa has tons of upside and his performance as a freshman will be critical, although he seems like more of a two-year player who is then a first-rounder.

Dickinson tested the NBA draft waters but decided to return to Michigan basketball. He needs to show he can score down low with both hands, especially against guys like Kofi Cockburn. The 7-foot-1 center also needs to show off his jumper.

He’s been working on extending his shot and he was a decent long-range shooter before coming to Michigan, so he just needs to show NBA scouts he has that club in his bag.

If Dickinson can do that, Michigan basketball could have three or maybe even four players picked in 2022.