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Michigan basketball: Wolverines have another in the transfer portal

Chris Balasby: Chris Balas04/06/22Balas_Wolverine
Michigan basketball Brandon Johns
Michigan Wolverines guard DeVante' Jones (12) talks to teammates guard Hunter Dickinson (1), guard Caleb Houstan (22), and forward Brandon Johns Jr. (23) as they huddle together during a stoppage in play during a regular season Big Ten Conference basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Michigan Wolverines on February 23, 2022 at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Michigan basketball has had another player enter the transfer portal, and it might not be the last.

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Months after Michigan second-year guard Zeb Jackson entered his name, veteran Brandon Johns has opted to leave the program. There had been talk he could come back for a fifth year, but he’ll instead explore his options.

The 6-8 Johns never lived up to his billing as a four-star, top 75 recruit. He showed signs when he moved into the starting lineup during last year’s NCAA Tournament, but he lost his job this year to freshman Moussa Diabate.

Several other Wolverines, including Diabate, still have decisions to make about their futures, as well. sophomore Hunter Dickinson tested the NBA waters last year and could again, though a hefty NIL deal could keep him in Ann Arbor.

Jackson ended up at VCU after first committing to Michigan under John Beilein and spending a year and change playing for Juwan Howard. Johns has yet to release a list of potential landing spots.

Johns initially committed to Michigan over Michigan State, earning a scholarship from Beilein. He started 11 games as a sophomore when Howard took over, playing 19.6 minutes per game, and shot 34.5 percent from three-point range. He started only five games the following season and managed 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds, improving to 36.8 percent from three and 79.6 from the free throw line.

This year, however, was a major step back. He started nine of 31 games and shot only 29.4 percent. That included a dismal 36.1 overall, down from 52.7 the previous year.

The East Lansing native will now explore his options, but with a degree from Michigan.

Watch for more on this development in the hours to come.