Michigan Basketball: 2021-22 Roster Adds Depth with Pair of Power 5 Transfers

The University of Michigan basketball team has scholarships left for the 2020-21 season, but they have made a pair of moves that will prepare the team for the 2021-22 season. Nojel Eastern and Chaundee Brown will both be in Ann Arbor to play their final season to add depth to the backcourt that will see the departure of two integral parts after this year.

NOJEL EASTERN

On May 14, the Wolverines got a commitment from Nojel Eastern. The former Purdue guard, Eastern announced on his Twitter page that he would be coming to Ann Arbor just two days after it was announced that he was leaving Purdue.

His exit of Purdue sparked an incredible tirade by Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter on the Dan Dakich Show.
Eastern  is a 6-7/225 guard from Evanston, IL that played three seasons at Purdue. He had offensive declines statistically this year, averaging only 4.9 points per game. In 2018-19, he averaged 7.5 points per game, while shooting a career best 49.5% from the field and 65% from the free throw line.

A player with a 3/16 career three-point mark, with his last made triple back on January 31, 2018, Eastern will not burn any Big Ten team with an impressive offensive display. Instead, Juwan Howard's bunch will see the most benefit from Eastern on the defensive end of the floor. At 6-7, Eastern can be a defensive nightmare for shorter guards, as his length and size is a relentless matchup. In fact, Michigan fans should take comfort in the fact that Cassius Winston named Nojel Eastern the toughest player to score on in his career.

Eastern's name is currently entered in the NBA Draft, but with very little traction in the mock drafts, and the possibility that workouts in front of teams will not be available prior to the withdrawal date, it would be shocking to see Eastern remain in the draft. He is expected to sit this season, and he will then be able to join the backcourt for his senior season. This will be a great addition in terms of depth to a team that will lose Eli Brooks and Mike Smith to graduation after this year.

CHAUNDEE BROWN

Michigan added the second transfer on May 19, when former Wake Forest guard Chaundee Brown announced that he would be heading to Ann Arbor. 

Brown is a 6-5/220 guard from Orlando, FL, who played three years for the Demon Deacons. He has continued to improve in his years at Wake, bringing his scoring average from 7.6 per game as a freshman to 12.1 this season. He shot 45.6% from the field, 32.2% from three and 83.1% from the free throw line this past season. 

During his three seasons, he made 74 starts for Wake Forest. In thirteen of those games, he scored at least 20 points, proving that he has an impressive ability to create offense for his team. Brown was also named ACC Player of the Week this past year for the week of December 16, when he had a career high 26 points on 11/16 shooting in a game against number 23 ranked Xavier.

Brown, like Eastern, is expected to sit out one season. He will have a final year of eligibility left to provide scoring in the backcourt. As a result of these signings, Michigan's scholarship allotment is now at it's full 13. This includes Jace Howard, Juwan's son, who was ultimately given a scholarship after some other recruiting decisions. Howard, a three-star recruit, had given up his scholarship earlier in the offseason.






 

 



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