Latest on Michigan Basketball transfer portal pursuits

Michigan basketball is a finalist for one transfer portal target and is hoping to crack the top five for another this week. 

After the departures of Hunter Dickinson and Kobe Bufkin over the weekend to the transfer portal and the NBA draft, there’s no doubt that Michigan basketball needs major help in the portal.

The loss of Bufkin was expected. It still stings but it’s hard to blame a guy being talked about as a lottery pick for pursuing his dream. Kobe really improved this past season and he deserves everything that he’s going to get.

Dickinson leaving via the portal is what it is. Michigan basketball needs a culture reset and the Wolverines weren’t all that successful the past two seasons with Dickinson as the big dog, so I’m kind of looking forward to a reset.

Rebuilding a roster nowadays can happen overnight. Look at Kansas State or even Penn State in the Big Ten. People acting like Michigan basketball is going to be terrible are overlooking the dynamics of roster building.

Michigan has a lot of work to do. That’s clear. But if you add a few quality pieces, on top of Nimari Burnett, a former top-40 recruit, the Wolverines might be better than people think, especially if Tarris Reed and Dug McDaniel can take big second-year leaps.

In terms of the transfer portal, one name to know is Chris Ledlum of Harvard. The Wolverines have made his top five according to On3.com and that’s along with St. John’s, Tennessee, Iowa, and Indiana.

According to 247 sports, Ledlum has visits scheduled with Indiana and Tennessee. He’s also expected to hold a Zoom meeting with Michigan basketball this week.

Ledlum is a 6-foot-6 forward and he was stellar scoring about the bucket for Harvard, making 55 percent of his 2-pointers. He made 1.4 3-pointers per game last season but shot just 29 percent. However, part of that is being such a high-volume shooter.

The Wolverines need scoring and he can provide it. He also averaged 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.1. blocks. He’s also a 64 percent shooter from the free-throw line.

Latest on Michigan basketball, B.J. Mack

Another Michigan basketball transfer portal target, B.J. Mack, is releasing a top five this week. He’s already cut his list down to 10 and the Wolverines made that cut. They also held a Zoom meeting with him and getting him on campus for a visit is the next step.

Michigan basketball needs a talented four-man and the former Wofford big would be an ideal fit. He’s a stellar shooter from beyond the arc and he can score in the post. He wouldn’t be Hunter Dickinson but adding Mack and Ledlum would help fill that low-post scoring void — somewhat.

Reed will have to develop more on the offensive end too. But if the Wolverines were able to add Mack, Ledlum, and another talented guard, this roster suddenly looks a lot better.

Of course, that’s all easier said than done. Other teams are pushing for those players too and regardless of who, Michigan needs multiple top-100 talents in the transfer portal.