Michigan Basketball: Any hope for Moussa Diabate, Caleb Houstan?

The NBA draft withdrawal deadline is looming and we haven’t heard a peep out of Moussa Diabate or Caleb Houstan. Does Michigan basketball have any hope of getting them back?

When it comes to finalizing which players are staying in the NBA draft and which are returning to college, we have gotten a lot of clarity.

Most of the players going through the draft process have made their decisions. Michigan basketball’s Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan are among those that haven’t. At least they haven’t announced anything yet.

On some level, you wonder if this quiet could be a good thing, but it was quiet before the deadline to enter too and that didn’t go well for the Wolverines.

Houstan didn’t work out at the NBA Draft Combine, declining an invite and it has fueled speculation that he has a promise of some sort. He’s been projected in the first round and CBS Sports is the latest outlet to have him as a first-round pick in its latest mock draft.

He’s projected to the Thunder and that’s not the first mock draft where that happens. Oklahoma City has three first-round picks and a slew in the second round as well, so it makes sense for the Thunder to take a chance on a guy that was thought of as a lottery pick not long ago.

Plus some of these teams have been scouting Houstan since before his Michigan days and those were better than some are giving him credit for (39 percent from 3-point range in Big Ten, over 10 a game). In more than half his games, Houstan made at least two 3-pointers. Just saying.

And while there was chatter about Houstan not leaving unless he was a top-20 pick, it seems like he’s comfortable with his stock now which seems to be in the 30-40 range. So don’t expect him back with Michigan basketball. That’s my final prediction.

What about Moussa?

As far as Moussa, his draft stock had to be helped by the combine but it’s not like it was a surprise when he tested well. He’s an athletic freak and he’s a guy best suited to play center in the NBA.

That’s why returning to Michigan basketball isn’t a tremendous option. If Hunter Dickinson wasn’t around, Diabate could be the starting center and that would serve his development well and make no mistake, he needs lots of development.

But the raw tools are there. He could be a really good defender in the NBA, after some time, and his ability to switch screens wil be invaluable. Plus, playing inside, his lack of a jump shot won’t hurt as badly and he’s got a decent feel for scoring in the post when he can catch the ball.

It seems more likely to me that Diabate goes undrafted, but even so, some team will give him some guaranteed money just based on potential. And it’s hard to argue that a year or two in the G-League isn’t exactly what he needs.

I’m holding out hope Michigan basketball will get one of its early entrants back, however, my gut tells me the Wolverines will have two roster spots to fill and few options for filling them.