Michigan’s highly touted freshman class will arrive on campus this weekend. The men’s basketball team, which lost four starters from last season, replenished its roster with four high school players.
Michigan’s first full-team workout will take place next week, an unofficial start to the 2022-23 season.
The Wolverines had an uneven regular season last year but won a couple of NCAA Tournament games as an 11 seed, including a big upset over 3 seed Tennessee, to reach the Sweet 16. They finished with a 19-15 record.
The starting backcourt of DeVante’ Jones and Eli Brooks, both fifth-year players, are gone. So too are starting forwards Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabaté, both of whom were drafted into the NBA on Thursday night.
Center Hunter Dickinson, Michigan’s leading scorer and rebounder each of the past two seasons, will return for his junior year. He’s a preseason All-American candidate. Terrance Williams II, Kobe Bufkin, and Jace Howard are Michigan’s other returners who played meaningful minutes last season. Michigan added two experienced graduate transfers: Princeton point guard Jaelin Llewellyn and Duke forward Joey Baker.
Still, given the departures, at least a couple of the freshmen figure to see significant playing time. The group ranks 10th in the country per the 247sports composite, behind Ohio State (sixth), Indiana (eighth), and Illinois (ninth) in the Big Ten. All four freshmen are four-star prospects.
Here’s a little bit about each player, with links to more in-depth stories.
Dug McDaniel
The 5-foot-11 point guard is Michigan’s latest player from the DMV area. McDaniel was the Player of the Year in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, the same league that produced Dickinson and Williams. McDaniel played for St. Paul VI and won a conference and state championship this past season. He is the No. 78 player in the 2022 class according to the 247sports composite.
Princeton graduate transfer Jaelin Llewellyn figures to start at point guard, but with Frankie Collins having transferred out, McDaniel, an exceptional passer, could be the back up.
Story: Dug McDaniel brings elite point guard skills to Michigan
Gregg Glenn III
Glenn also won a state championship as a senior, at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The 6-foot-7 forward brings versatility to both ends of the court. He is the No. 115 prospect in the class.
With both of Michigan’s starting forwards gone, there’s a chance for Glenn to come in and contribute right away.
Story: Michigan lost its starting forwards, and Gregg Glenn III is ready to help
Tarris Reed Jr.
Reed is a 6-foot-9 center ranked No. 33 in the class. The St. Louis native transferred to a newly formed school, Link Academy, in Branson, Missouri, last year to play for his AAU coach.
Link played a national, competitive schedule, and went 34-2. Reed was a big reason with his post scoring, improved outside shooting, and defense. Dickinson won’t sit on the bench much, but when he does, Reed figures to step in at center.
Story: Incoming Michigan freshman Tarris Reed Jr. is a college-ready big man
Jett Howard
Like Reed, Howard played in the Jordan Brand Classic and Iverson Classic this spring. He was the MVP of the latter after scoring 20 points, and it’s Howard’s offensive skills that earned him the No. 39 ranking in the class. He is head coach Juwan Howard’s youngest son, and will join his brother Jace, a rising junior.
The 6-foot-7 guard, who played the past two seasons at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, should see significant playing time right away at Michigan.
Story: Jett Howard ready to play for dad at Michigan, even with potential hecklers
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