Michigan Wolverines news: Adam Fantilli return still possible, good news for hoops, and more

In our latest Michigan Wolverines news roundup, Adam Fantilli talks about a possible return, good news for Michigan basketball, and more.

When the NHL draft is held at the end of the month, the Michigan Wolverines will once again figure prominently in the proceedings.

Adam Fantilli is in contention to be the No. 1 overall pick and at worse, the Michigan Wolverines standout who scored 30 goals and dished out 35 assists last season, will be a top-3 pick.

However, the hockey draft rules are much different than the NBA. When Jett Howard and Kobe Bufkin declared for the NBA draft, their days as Michigan Wolverines were over.

The NHL is different. Fantilli could be selected by a team and still play for the Michigan Wolveriners next season if he chooses. That NHL team would still control his rights and this past season, we saw a number of U-M players join teams that drafted them in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Hobey Baker Award winner, which is essentially the Heisman for college hockey, would make a huge impact if he returned. The Michigan Wolverines should be a Frozen Four contender next season and that will be especially true if Fantilli returns, something he is considering according to a recent interview with NHL.com:

"“I’ll wait until after the draft before making a decision. Obviously, losing in the semifinal round against Quinnipiac in the Frozen Four left a bitter taste in my mouth because I wanted to win that game and the game after that to win the national championship.”"

Stay tuned Michigan hockey fans, but for context, this would be like Blake Corum announcing he will return for this season or J.J. McCarthy coming back in 2024.

Good news for Michigan basketball

The news broke on Tuesday that Nimari Burnett will be immediately eligible according to a Tweet from Jon Rothstein.

Burnett is a two-time transfer and needed to graduate or get a waiver from the NCAA to be able to play for Michigan basketball right away next season.

According to Rothstein, Burnett wil graduate from Alabama on August 5th, which will allow him to be eligible for Michigan basketball next season. Burnett has two years of eligibility and his addition was huge for the Michigan Wolverines this offseason.

Burnett made one 3-pointer per game last season and is an elite defender. He has battled some injuries but was a five-star recruit for a reason. If Juwan Howard and Howard Eisley can help him develop his offensive game a little more, he could be a really valuable piece.

Regardless, Burnett will be a starter and my expectation is that he’s going to see a lot of minutes next year for Michigan baskeball.

Another transfer on the radar

Speaking of transfers, another name Michigan basketball fans need to know is Chandler Lawson of Memphis. 

Lawson just entered the transfer portal as a graduate. He’s 6-foot-8 and spent two seasons with the Tigers, as well as two with Oregon.

His career numbers don’t wow you. However, he’s been a solid rotational piece throughout his career and has averaged at least 18 minutes a game in three seasons.

Lawson isn’t going to add a scorer to the backcourt, but he’s a solid finisher, an underrated rim protector, and a guy that shot 50 percent on 3s (14 attempts) a season ago.

Michigan is building a defensive-minded team and Lawson would be a nice addition. However, the Wolverines aren’t the only team interested, but it’s another transfer to watch.