ANN ARBOR, Mich. – It’s the beginning of the 2022-23 faculty basketball season, and similar to years previous, the Michigan Wolverines are coming into the season ranked within the AP High 25 at No. 22.

The Wolverines got here into final season ranked No. 6 as that they had one of many top-ranked lessons within the nation. However, inconsistencies and lack of taking pictures led to a tumultuous season that ended within the Candy 16 as they fell to the Villanova Wildcats 63-55 in San Antonio.

Learn: Michigan males’s basketball falls to Villanova in Candy 16

The Wolverines turned over their roster as gamers like Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan left for the NBA Draft. Different gamers that left have both transferred or graduated, like DeVante Jones, Brandon Johns Jr., Frankie Collins, Zeb Jackson, Brandon Wade, Adrien Nunez, Jaron Faulds, and Eli Brooks.

Learn: Michigan basketball: Moussa Diabate to stay in 2022 NBA Draft

It’s protected to say that the boys in maize have turned over a brand new roster forward of the 2022-23 season. They’ve one of many favorites for convention participant of the yr and newly topped group captain Hunter Dickinson, returning for his junior season on a mission.

“Successful a championship is a giant purpose why Dickinson got here again to high school,” mentioned head coach Juwan Howard. “He’s working arduous to assist lead and to convey a championship to Ann Arbor.”

Different returning gamers are fellow group captains Terrance Williams II and Jace Howard, budding star Kobe Bufkin, transfers Jaelin Llewellyn and Joey Baker, and freshmen Jett Howard, Gregg Glenn III, Youssef Khayat, and Dug McDaniel.

Howard spoke extremely of 5′11′, 160-pound four-star guard McDaniel, describing him as a particular, distinctive participant who is aware of find out how to play the sport of basketball.

“Dug is a particular distinctive participant that is aware of find out how to play the sport of basketball,” Howard mentioned. “He’s been taking part in the sport a very long time, and you’ll simply see by his progress and information for the sport and his really feel for the sport and in addition to offer management on the market on the ground.”

Howard continued:

“We’re very happy with watching his progress because the time he’s taken his first steps on campus again in July, and every day he’s been a pleasure to educate. You’ll be able to ask his teammates how he’s been competing on the market on the ground and the way they actually get pleasure from taking part in with him and in opposition to him. From my eyes, what I witnessed is that this younger man can have a big impact on our program.”

Llewellyn will probably be a monster when going through Huge Ten competitors, as he placed on a present whereas dominating within the Ivy League and averaged virtually 16 factors per sport final season.

He has the potential to be a primetime participant. His abilities have been hidden, however now, putting him beneath the intense lights in Michigan basketball, he’ll placed on a present.

Think about him within the excessive pick-and-roll with Dickinson, or dump downs, ball screens, and pick-and-pops will trigger nightmares for opponents. As the place to begin guard, his scoring might take successful, however his assists will spike as he makes performs for his teammates.

Khayat joined the group in Paris in the course of the Wolverines performed in a three-game exhibition to work on their craft whereas additionally taking in some sightseeing again in August.

“It was nice assembly Youssef (Khayat),” Howard mentioned. “I’ve had lots of conversations with him on the telephone, and I couldn’t wait to get the chance to see him in individual. I recall being in Paris and understanding what time he was going to reach. I used to be ready downstairs within the foyer. It wasn’t deliberate, and it occurred so organically as the blokes have been coming downstairs, and it was simply stunning to see how all of them needed to be there to welcome him on the lodge foyer flooring.”

Khayat is a 6′8′, 190-pound, 19-year-old small ahead from Lebanon with immense expertise. He moved to France to play skilled basketball, the place he honed his craft, and the gamers welcomed him with open arms.

“I’m glad for our group accepting him, and I’m additionally excited for a way he adjusted up to now to Ann Arbor, Michigan,” Howard mentioned.

Howard and the 2021-22 group at all times spoke about going to and profitable a nationwide championship. Though final season’s group fell wanting the mark, the thought course of hasn’t modified.

“We’re at all times fascinated about profitable, rising, and dealing arduous to go after our greatest problem and one in every of our greatest targets, and that’s profitable championships, not only one,” Howard mentioned. “We take a look at and determine that we’re taking part in in one of many hardest convention in faculty basketball, and that’s the Huge Ten. From that stage, from the entire nice coaches and gamers that play within the Huge Ten that that’s at all times going to be a problem as a result of groups at all times do a fantastic job of scouting you and vice versa.”

Howard continued:

“You play one another not as soon as however twice typically, after which within the Huge Ten Event, which is one other one in every of our targets of profitable that championship, after which it’s the last word NCAA championship, and that’s one thing I’ve been peeking at and scratching the floor since I performed right here on the College of Michigan. I haven’t completed it but, however I’m at all times fired up about it.”

The brand new addition of the extremely touted Jett Howard brings one other son to the group. And though the entire gamers are his sons in some kind or trend, they don’t have his final identify.

“They’re particular and uniquely completely different although they’re from the identical mother and pa,” Howard mentioned. “Watching them develop and develop all through the years and seeing who they’re and what they’ve develop into, I’m so happy with them, and I’m going to educate them. At occasions it’s going to be some arduous, powerful love. Am I teaching them tougher than their teammates? Perhaps, possibly not, however they’re going to get coached. I anticipate quite a bit from the entire gamers.”

Jett Howard had himself a popping out celebration Friday (Nov. 4) throughout an exhibition sport in opposition to Ferris State as he dropped a 30 piece nugget.

The Wolverines have one returning starter, three juniors, two grad transfers, 5 new freshmen, and Bufkin, who Howard has nice expectations for forward of the season.

“Kobe (Bufkin) has been nice, and he has an opportunity to essentially impression this group in lots of methods,” Howard mentioned. “He can actually shoot the basketball and might rating as he’s a very good finisher on the rim. He’s been on a mission, and he’s going to have a giant yr, and that’s what I anticipate from Kobe, a giant yr.”

The season ideas off Monday (Nov. 7) because the Wolverines will host the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons at 6:30 at Crisler Middle. What are your expectations for the season?