Saturday afternoon, the Michigan men’s basketball team dipped into the transfer portal and secured a crucial addition to next year’s team, adding former Coastal Carolina guard DeVante’ Jones.
A 6-foot-1 guard, Jones earned Sun Belt Player of the Year honors last season as a redshirt junior. He averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. A dynamic scoring guard, Jones is also capable of handling on-ball duties.
Jones previously met with Michigan’s coaching staff on a Zoom call on Monday. He chose the Wolverines over Memphis, Texas and Texas Tech.
For Michigan, Jones figures to fill a portion of the backcourt voids left by Mike Smith and Chaundee Brown, who each declared for the NBA Draft earlier this month. Besides senior guard Eli Brooks, who returns for a fifth season, the Wolverines’ backcourt picture is murky. Sophomore guard Zeb Jackson and incoming freshmen guards Frankie Collins and Kobe Bufkin will all compete for playing time. But Jones, an accomplished collegiate player, seems primed to become a regular in the rotation.
The question with players transferring from mid-majors into power-five conferences is always how well their skills and talent will translate. Last season, the Wolverines struck gold with Smith, who adjusted from Columbia to Michigan with ease. Time will tell whether or not Jones is capable of the same.