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Michigan basketball sends well-wishes to Jaelin Llewellyn ahead of surgery

Anthony Broomeby: Anthony Broome01/04/23anthonytbroome
Jaelin Llewellyn #3 of the Michigan Wolverines
Jaelin Llewellyn #3 of the Michigan Wolverines shoots a free throw during the second half of a college basketball game against the Jackson State Tigers at Crisler Arena on November 23, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 78-68 over the Jackson State Tigers. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

Michigan basketball will be without graduate point guard Jaelin Llewellyn for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL suffered in the game against Kentucky in London. After a month of conditioning and strength training to prep for the surgery, it appears the day that he goes under the knife is upon us.

The Michigan men’s basketball Twitter account shared a message of encouragement to Llewellyn on Wednesday afternoon wishing him well in his surgery and recovery. He had previously stated that the surgery was slated for early January.

Llewellyn averaged 7.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 8 games with the Wolverines this year. In his absence, the Wolverines have turned to freshman Dug McDaniel, who has started the last 5 games in relief of Llewellyn. McDaniel is averaging 6.2 points, 2.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.

Llewellyn joined the Wolverines after spending the first 4 years of his career at Princeton. He was a four-star recruit and top-100 prospect during his high school career, per ESPN. The Mississauga, Ontario native was North Pole Hoops’ No. 5 Canadian prospect and top point guard in the class of 2018.

He had a decorated career at Princeton, joining the program’s 1,000-point club this past season. Llewellyn was First Team All-Ivy League in 2022, averaging 15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. His three-point shooting increased every season at Princeton, which peaked this year at 38.6% from distance. Llewellin started all 76 games he played in his career with the Tigers. 

Llewellyn has a season of eligibility remaining if he chooses to use it. No decision has made made on his future and the focus is squarely on the rehab process.

“It was definitely challenging because it’s not what I wanted from this year, and I wanted to be able to play the rest of the season with these guys,” Llewellyn told the media last month. “But I’ve been in a long rehab situation before so I’ll be able to bounce back. That first time, I tore my Achilles and then it was the middle of a pandemic.

“I’m not really sure [what’s next yet],” he continued. “I’m still taking things day by day, because I’ve got a long road ahead of me and I don’t want to get too far ahead.”