Exit: Frankie Collins
It makes no sense, and total sense, and lots of people who think they possess sense are going to imagine themselves capable of passing it on. It's all in vain. Frankie Collins, projected to be Michigan's point guard of the immediate future, is entering the transfer portal.
I'm sure there's an announcement or something I can place here...I'm writing this last night and spending my Saturday trying not to dwell.
After a much-needed freshman year behind Devante' Jones, Collins was—at least in every mind but his—guaranteed to start the majority of Michigan's possessions next year. Shooting aside, his on-ball defense got Michigan to the Sweet 16, and there were more than enough flashes of his finishing at the rim and passing acumen to expect Collins would grow into a taller Zavier Simpson.
Clearly, Collins felt he'd been recruited over when Michigan picked up transfer guard Jaelin Llewellyn, even though he wasn't recruited over, because Llewellyn is a shooting guard and Frankie can't shoot. Again, if that was something that could be communicated it's past.
Unfortunately for Michigan it's still true, which means they're probably going to have to go shopping in the portal for a 30-minute point guard, either a grad transfer, a freshman willing to start his education over, or someone from the rare school our admissions tweeds will concede is a college.
It's 2022, however, so there are some names still out there. Iowa State's Tyrese Hunter was a freshman at an until-recently AAU school. He recently cut down his list to KU, Texas, Tennessee, Purdue, and Zaga, but that was before Michigan opened up—he's originally from Racine, Wisconsin.
I guess it’s time to not care about the teams until the beginning of their seasons, because we have no idea who will actually be on them. I love Michigan, but will probably be less invested if the only thing on the minds of the players is who is willing to pay them the most at any given time.
I am just waiting for someone to offer an opponent’s starting QB a multimillion dollar deal, but only if they come shoot a commercial out of town on the day of the big game.
Thats brilliant and scary as well. If it ever became a thing we would 100% be on the receiving end.
-seasons over anyway because you lost two games
-your rival is the final game of the season
-you already know you are going to sit the bowl
Time to get paid!
He gone??
Dag-Nabbit!!
Frankie, we had so much hope for you! Best of luck wherever your path takes you...
NIL / transfers for me, but not for thee.
college football and basketball are in a very, very dangerous place right now. pro sports suck ass, but at least there’s some semblance of rules in place. we don’t even have that right now.
I guess it matters if Collins feels he was recruited over or not. The same could be said if they had gotten Shannon at the 3 and had TW III minutes taken. Idk. It feels like retention matters more now, and you’re sort of running an NBA team now with a few guaranteed spots and some other guys to fill in.
I think it’s weird now. Do you recruit all the transfers and lose your own guys? What do you owe a guy you recruited and told you would develop? Idk.
I would have missed guys like Walton and caris developing at Michigan or Eli brooks. Also, Collins was objectively a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Good luck to him.
I think a coach now has to go year by year. Before, you could somewhat count on developing talent, but it seems like that might be much harder to do in this era. So you’re going to get guys recruited over who transfer out. As a fan, continuity is more fun, but the counter is that it’s more fun to win. Either way, roster management is now huge
I don't get why we would make the Princeton transfer a PG when he's clearly not and has never been. It makes more sense to live and die with Frankie and Dug at the 1 pray they improve. The transfer and Kobe at the 2 where they can split time better. Now we have a "PG" who's profile screams 2, a freshman back up PG who's like 5'8" and then Kobe at the 2 backed up by air. Our backcourt starters are going to have to play the 35 minutes a game.
This is the new era of big time college athletics. There is going to be a lot more roster turnover. It's not just NIL, not just the portal, not just for playing time, not just because of personality conflicts, it's all of those and more ... on steroids.
There will be opportunities for guys like Hunter Dickinson who want to stick around to make money precisely because they've stuck around, built a brand and a team-related fanbase.
And there will be opportunities for guys who want to take the Nyjel Pack route and sign a 'free agent' deal somewhere else.
Time will tell if the new NCAA engenders the same enthusiasm and fan loyalty as the old order, but the reality is that the 'old days' are dead and gone. Time to adjust and move on,
I wonder if he's irked his classmates Houstan & Diabate are exploring the NBA and he spent the year coming off the bench. #ego
My admittedly selfish take - college sports are rapidly becoming far less fun.
One of the very best things about college sports is watching kids develop, show up as kids and literally develop into men and women before our eyes. It's thrilling, and so much fun to support.
It also reflects the overall mission of the university - to prepare students for their future lives and careers.
I would have loved to see Chris Hinton reach his full potential and become a high draft choice with a promising NFL future. I was so looking forward to watching Frankie Collins blossom into a dynamic force.
Even for those kids who never quite reach the NFL/NBA, it makes me happy to know those kids who stay at Michigan get a good degree and great head-start toward whatever career they choose.
I find it much harder to care about kids who use Michigan as a useful pit stop. I'm less excited about wealthy young professionals effectively playing minor league sports. I'm less excited about kids who jump from school to school. It's just not what college is supposed to be about.
Believe me, I understand it's not about me.
I'm not as convinced as many that all these changes are beneficial to the kids, at least as currently (un)structured. I sincerely hope kids find success and happiness - I just find it harder to care as much.
That portal is several thousand kids right now. I bet 25 to 40% of them never get a degree. Say what you will but those same kids wouldve had a large number of degrees with the old rules in place. I hope someone documents the bad side of this. Kids need to get degrees that is first and foremost. We spend all day talking about the 5 one and dones and almost no time talking about the 3000+ that need degrees in hand for their efforts. Pay them some money, send the NBA players to the NBA the second they are ready and graduate these kids.
I was thinking that Juwan already knew he was transferring and that is how and why he got the dude from Princeton. I just have a hard time thinking he was blindsided by this.
I agree. This could be a retroactive/sour grapes transfer. Frankie couldve been huge.
It’s ok. I hope he gets a good NIL deal elsewhere. Not at all convinced he was that guy who could lead next year’s team.
Pure speculation here (but aren’t we all just speculating?) but I wonder if this has something to do with Dickinson’s return actually.
It’s a lot harder to stand out as a PG when your offense flows through a traditional big man in the post. Especially when you’re not a great shooter/off-ball threat.
For all the talk about NIL and getting recruited over, maybe this is as simple as Collins correctly ascertaining that his skill set fits best on a team built around the pick-and-roll and Michigan isn’t going to be that type of team as long as Dickinson is here.
Loved his game.... and i was one that was not surprised when he shined in his moment vs CS.
That being said, if you don't want to be here, we don't want you here. those who stay will be champions.
GO BLUE
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