First Michigan basketball player transfers, plus more Michigan Wolverines news
Michigan basketball lost its first player to the transfer portal, plus former Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard released a statement on his departure.
The transfer portal for college basketball opens officially on Monday and the Michigan basketball program will have at least one player with his name entered into it -- George Washington III.
The freshman guard was the only signee of the 2023 Michigan basketball recruiting class and was ranked as four-star prospect according to the 247 Sports composite rankings, one who was ranked outside the top 100.
Michigan lost freshman guard George Washington III to the transfer portal on Sunday night.
— Brock Heilig (@brockheilig) March 17, 2024
In his first and only year in Ann Arbor, Washington III shot 5-27 from the floor and 4-18 from beyond the arc.
More:https://t.co/5zWQDZkI2o
Washington didn't play much as a freshman. He saw double-digit minutes in just six games this season. He was 5-of-27 from the field and his high for the season was 10 points against Purdue. Washington made 4-of-18 3-pointers.
This comes on the heels of Juwan Howard being fired on Friday. More Michigan basketball players are likely to enter the transfer portal in what is expected to be a mass exodus. At the same time, the Michigan Wolverines went 8-24, so fans shouldn't be too upset about any departures.
Former Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard issues statement
Juwan Howard, a Michigan Wolverines legend, for his time as a player and coach, issued a statement about his departure from Michigan basketball.
Thank you, Coach Howard 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/POingwtrJD
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) March 17, 2024
The former Fab Five member who played in two Final Fours for Michigan basketball, in addition to coaching the Wolverines to a Big Ten championship, an Elite 8, and the Sweet 16 twice, said: "Michigan will always be a significant part of my legacy and I will be a significant part of theirs. Michigan man forever, Go Blue!'
As a long-time Michigan basketball fan, it breaks my heart to see Juwan Howard fired. I do think he's a good basketball coach, he just wasn't a good fit for college basketball. He'll resurface in the NBA and my hope is that he gets an NBA head-coaching gig at some point. He passed that up that opportunity to be the head coach for the Michigan Wolverines.
So good luck, Juwan, and thank you.
More Michigan Wolverines news
The Michigan hockey team is headed back to the Big Ten championship game, and likely the NCAA tournament after a win over Minnesota this weekend. Michigan women's basketball also made the NCAA tournament for a sixth straight season (outside of COVID) and will take on Kansas. The Wolverines made the tournament as a No. 9 seed.
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Last but not least, the Michigan Wolverines open spring practice on Monday. We'll have much more on that but the spring game is set for April 20 and the team hits the field this week for the first spring ball under Sherrone Moore.