Michigan basketball roster analysis: Who stays, who goes?
Michigan Wolverines basketball closed out its season in disappointing fashion, with a 66-57 loss to Penn State Wednesday night at the Big Ten Tournament, marking a nine-game losing skid. The Maize and Blue concluded the year with just 8 wins and a whopping 24 losses, the most in program history.
A tough season is over, but now the challenging part is here. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel has a decision to make on head coach Juwan Howard, and players have to make choices about their futures. Here, we focus on the latter, breaking down which players have exhausted their eligibility, those that can come back and the incoming freshman class.
It’s important to note that undergraduate players with eligibility remaining can enter the NCAA transfer portal beginning March 18, the day after Selection Sunday, in a period that runs through May 1. If there’s a head-coaching change, the portal will immediately come open for 30 days.
Players out of eligibility
Graduate forward Tray Jackson
Graduate guard Jaelin Llewellyn
Graduate forward Olivier Nkamhoua
Jackson (Seton Hall) and Nkmahoua (Tennessee) each transferred to Michigan ahead of the 2023-24 season, spending one year in Ann Arbor. Llewellyn, meanwhile, spent two seasons with the Maize and Blue, suffering a season-ending ACL injury in 2022-23 before returning for this past campaign.
Players with remaining eligibility
One year left:
Guard Nimari Burnett
Guard Jace Howard
Forward Terrance Williams II
Burnett and Williams were both mum on their futures when meeting with the media following Michigan’s senior day loss to Nebraska March 10. Howard, meanwhile, requested to be listed as a junior this season, indicating that he plans to return for another season.
Two years left:
Forward Youssef Khayat
Guard Dug McDaniel
Forward Tarris Reed Jr.
Forward Will Tschetter
Tschetter just wrapped up his third season at Michigan, but his first year was a redshirt so he still has two remaining. McDaniel, Reed and Khayat, meanwhile, all came in as freshmen in the 2023 class.
Three years left:
Guard George Washington III
Washington was Michigan’s lone freshman entering this season. He scored 22 points in 21 appearances.
Incoming freshmen
Signees:
Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy four-star guard Christian Anderson
Grand Rapids (Mich.) Catholic Central three-star guard Durral Brooks
Commit:
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star small forward Khani Rooths
Anderson and Brooks signed with Michigan during the November period, while Rooths did not after committing Nov. 12. The regular signing period runs from April 17 to May 15.
