Michigan Basketball: Who's Leaving, Who's Returning And Who's Yet To Announce

Though most have already made a decision, the Wolverines are waiting on an announcement from two very big contributors from the 2020-21 season.

Author:
Christopher Breiler
Updated:
Apr 16, 2021 7:07 PM EDT
Original:
Apr 16, 2021

Arguably Michigan's most important piece from the 2020-21 season suggested that his time in Ann Arbor was coming to an end. Senior forward Isaiah Livers took to twitter to thank Michigan after spending four years with the program. During his time in Ann Arbor, Livers had established himself as one of the best players within the Big Ten conference. Unfortunately, his Michigan career would come to an early end during the 2020-21 season after suffering an injury that would sideline him for the entire NCAA tournament.

However, it hasn't been all bad news for the Wolverines when it comes to departures. Senior guard Eli Brooks recently announced that he would take advantage of the extra year provided by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic and return for the 2021-22 season. Brooks was not only a key part of Michigan's success during the regular season, he was also a big part of its success in the NCAA tournament - notching 21 points against against a very tough No. 8 LSU team in the second round.

With a couple of big time decisions still looming for the basketball program, here's an overall look at where things currently stand.

Who's leaving

Isaiah Livers, Forward

Recovering from right foot surgery (Friday, April 2; six month recovery)
Will not use the NCAA's extra season
On track to graduate (May)
Working with Mark Bartelstein's group on next professional steps

Austin Davis, Center

Will not use the NCAA's extra season
On track to graduate (May) with grad degree
In the process of finding an agent to play overseas
If that doesn't work out, he might return to start looking for PT work or potentially work with Jon Sanderson

Mike Smith, Point Guard

Will enter NBA Draft; in process of finding an agent
Will not use the NCAA's extra season

Chaundee Brown Jr., Guard

Will enter NBA Draft; in process of finding an agent
Will not use the NCAA's extra season
On track to graduate (August) from U-M

C.J. Baird, Forward

Will not use the NCAA's extra season
On track to graduate (May) from B School

Luke Wilson, Guard

Will not use the NCAA's extra season
On track to graduate (May) from U-M and B School

Jaron Faulds, Forward

Not expected to use the NCAA's extra season
On track to graduate (Summer) from U-M

Rico Ozuna-Harrison, Guard

Not expected to use the NCAA's extra season
Expected to delay his graduation to continue to work on pre-reqs for potentially going to medical school.

Who's returning

Eli Brooks, Guard - Senior

Started 25 games
Missed one game (at Minnesota, Jan. 16) after straining right foot in practice
Averaging 9.7 points per game
Scored a season-high 21 points vs. LSU (March 22)
Has 13 double figure scoring games
Second on U-M with 38 3-pointers
Had a career-high-tying five 3-pointers vs LSU
Has 10 games with 2+ 3-pointers
Shooting 40.9% from long range
Averaging 3.2 rebounds
Had season-high eight rebounds against Iowa (Feb. 25)
Has 12 games with 4+ rebounds
Averaging 3.0 assists
Had a career-high seven assists vs. LSU
Has 10 games of 4+ assists
Has 76 total assists, sets a new single season best (59; 2019-20)
Shooting 92.7 percent (38-for-41) on free throws
Averaging 30.8 minutes per game

Adrien Nunez, Guard - Junior

2020-21 Notes

Appeared in nine games; all off the bench
Made his first appearance against Ball State (Dec. 2), one rebound, one block
Scored 2 points, 3x - Central Florida (Dec. 6), Minnesota (Jan. 6), Illinois (March 2)
Grabbed one rebound, 2x - Northwestern (Jan. 3), at Minnesota (Jan. 16)

Zeb Jackson, Guard - Freshman

2020-21 Notes

Appeared in 15 games; all off the bench
Made debut against Bowling Green (Nov. 25), playing three minutes
Averaging 1.1 points per game
Scored first career points on three free throws (3-for-4) against Ball State (Dec. 2)
Made first career basket on a baseline jumper against Northwestern (Jan. 4)
Has a career-high six points vs. Texas Southern (March 20)
Made first two career 3-pointers in NCAA First Round game
Had 11 rebounds
Had first career rebound against Oakland (Nov. 29)
Had a career-high two rebounds, 2x - Minnesota (Jan. 6), vs. Texas Southern
Had six assists
Had a career-best two assists against Oakland (Nov. 29)
Played a career-high 10 against Ball State
Has seven games with 5+ minutes

Terrance Williams II, Forward - Freshman

2020-21 Notes

Appeared in 20 games; all off the bench
Made debut against Bowling Green (Nov. 25), four points, four rebounds
Averaging 2.0 points per game
Has a career-high 10 points against Central Florida (Dec. 6)
Instrumental in second half (& OT) comeback against Oakland
Had seven points, four rebounds and a career-best two assists
Averaging 2.3 rebounds per game
Had a career-high six rebounds, 2x - Central Florida and Northwestern (Jan. 4)
Has five games with 4+ rebounds
Averaging 7.7 minutes
Has seven games of 10+ minutes

Jace Howard, Guard - Freshman

2020-21

Played in 10 games; all off the bench
Made first career appearance against Ball State (Dec. 2)
Scored first career point on a driving, scooping layup against Northwestern (Jan. 4)
Had a career-high three points at Minnesota (Jan. 16), making for career 3-pointer
Grabbed a career-high one rebound, 4x - Central Florida (Dec. 6), at Minnesota, Maryland (Jan. 19) and Illinois (March 2)
Averaging 3.2 minutes

Who's yet to announce

Franz Wagner, Forward - Sophomore

2020-21 Notes

Started all 26 games
Third on U-M with 12.8 points per game
Scored a season-high 21 points, 2x - Iowa (Feb. 25) and at Indiana (Feb. 27)
Posted 16 double figure games; with four of 20+ point game
Second on U-M with 6.3 rebounds per game
Had a season-high 13 rebounds against Oakland (Nov. 29)
Has 17 games with 6+ rebounds; three 10+ board games
Recorded two double-double’s
14 points, 10 rebounds against Northwestern (Jan. 4)
15 points, 10 rebounds against Wisconsin (Jan. 12)
Shooting 49.4 percent from the field
Had a season-high nine field goals, 2x: at Nebraska (Dec. 25), Iowa (Feb. 25)
Has 18 games with 4+ field goals
Averaging 3.0 assists
Had a career-high six assists vs. Texas Southern (March 20)
With his 77 assists, he nearly tripled his freshman year total (27; 1.0 apg)
Has 15 games with 3+ assists; four with 5+
Shooting 83.1 percent from the free throw line (59-for-71)
Second on U-M with 27 blocks
Had a career-best five blocks against Northwestern
Leads U-M with 33 steals
Had a career-best four steals against Wisconsin (Jan. 12)
Averaging 31.5 minutes per game

Hunter Dickinson, Center - Freshman

2020-21 Notes

Played in all 26 games, with 21 starts
Made first career start against Penn State (Dec. 13); 20 points, seven rebounds
Leads U-M averaging 14.2 points per game
Scored in double-figures in 21 games
Has eight games of 15+ points; with five 20+ point games (tied for team-best)
20 points against Penn State (Dec. 13)
26 points at Maryland (Dec. 31)
28 points against Minnesota (Jan. 6) - career-high
22 points at Ohio State (Feb. 21)
21 points vs. Ohio State (March 13), B1G Tournament
Leads U-M with 7.5 rebounds
Leads U-M with 56 offensive and is second with 140 defensive boards
Has 5+ boards in 22 games; with six 10+ rebound games
Had career-best 15 rebounds, 2x - at Nebraska (Dec. 25), at Wisconsin (Feb. 14)
Recorded team-best six double-double’s
Shooting 60.6 percent (146-for-241) from the floor
Posted 16 games with 5+ field goals; with two 10+ FG games
Made a career-best 12 field goals against Minnesota
Leads U-M with 100 trips to the free throw line; shooting 77.0 percent
His 77 free throws made are more than any other Wolverine has attempted
Leads U-M with 37 blocks (1.4 bpg)
Had a career-high five blocks at Wisconsin (Feb. 14)
Had a career-best four assists against Oakland (Nov. 29)
Averaging 25.8 minutes

Brandon Johns Jr., Forward - Junior

Appeared in all 26 games with three starts
Started vs. Ohio State (March 13) with Isaiah Livers out (right foot)
Had seven points (7-for-8 FTs; career-highs), eight rebounds, two assists
Averaging 4.5 points
Has a season-high 11 points, 2x - Maryland (Jan. 19), vs. Texas Southern (March 20)
Has 14 games of 5+ points
Averaging 2.2 rebounds per game
Grabbed a season-high eight rebounds vs. Ohio State (March 13)
Has six games with 4+ rebounds
Grabbed 58 rebounds (25 offensive, 33 defensive)
Shooting 51.3 percent (39-for-76) from the field
Averaging 11.8 minutes
After not playing more that 15 minutes in first 23 games, as he moved into starting role he posted three straight 20+ minutes games with a season-high 27 vs. LSU (March 22)