David DeJulius Reportedly Entering Portal
Via Josh Henschke:
The Michigan Insider has learned that Michigan sophomore point guard David DeJulius will enter the transfer portal. According to sources that are familiar with DeJulius' plans, he will be entering the portal at some point this week and has called U-M to say his goodbyes.
DeJulius's pending departure was foreshadowed by Michigan's interest in a couple of grad transfer guards but still comes as a bit of a surprise. DDJ emerged to become a 21 MPG sixth man this year and was probably going to get that much time next year even if Michigan does get Josh Christopher. He shot 46/36 and had a turnover rate barely into double digits; he also became a very good one on one defender over the course of the season. A normal development pace should have seen him become a decent to good Big Ten starter.
Eli Brooks remains as a point guard option, but his scoring deficiencies are locked in at this point. Michigan would be able to function with Brooks as a D-first off ball "point guard" if Christopher and Franz Wagner are initiating much of the offense. Flexibility would be limited.
Unless there's a reversal in the near future Harvard transfer Bryce Aiken's destination just became a lot more important. Freshman Zeb Jackson is also an option at point guard, though it's hard to know how ready he will be to log minutes after a season spent as a deep bench option on a loaded Montverde team.
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Hope that means we landed JC. Good luck DDJ, loved watching you play for the maize and blue
We will be unbeatable with JC. Hallelujah!
Wish him luck where he lands. Calls for him to replace Simpson always felt premature but I was excited about him being a contributor next year.
Eli Brooks just isn't a pure PG. Opposing coaches are going to go into extended pressure D against him and it's going to cause problems in terms of getting into sets.
Beating pressure is a team thing and I thought Brooks actually looked better at that than X this year. Not a creator in the half court though to your point.
If they land Christopher I think Brooks would be a really good fit alongside him.
Here we go again...... all of you ripping Brooks early in year......just admit the gaffe, and give brooks the benefit of doubt... I went against all of the hate, including against Brian calling him a MAC level recruit during it... he is a very good player, and now not in X shadow, maybe you'll finally figure it out.
I like Brooks. He is a solid player, and I noticed that when he and DDJ were on the court together this past season, Brooks ran the point more often than DDJ.
? That's not ripping him. Brooks is a very good defender and has some good qualities on offense too. I just don't think his strength would lie as a facilitator on offense.
Who saw DDJ being the odd man out? Interesting developments on the basketball front recently...
I almost feel like it’s pretty selfless on his part. We could have had one of our trash players transfer to some garbage tier team and basically ruin their life, but he stepped up and proved himself to be valuable on the court and could transfer to plenty of good teams where he could get a good look from the NBA or overseas scouts.
Losing your starting PG is not ideal. Good luck to DDJ.
No its not, but thankfully DDJ was never going to be our starting PG next year. Brooks would have clearly started over him.
Highly dubious claim.
Brooks started over DDJ when Simpson was out this past year and would have started over him next year, which is why DDJ is transferring. No way he'd be transferring if he had a decent shot at starting.
DDJ wasn't a starter when X was out?
He started at the two, but Eli bumped down to start at PG which is significant since he was the starting SG all year. Juwan apparently liked Brooks better there than DDJ. It's actually remarkable how similar Brooks and DDJ's offensive numbers were for the year. Almost identical usage, shot splits, Ast and TO rates, etc. So with Brooks a vastly superior defender, it was a no brainer which guy was ahead.
I had hopes DDJ could turn into a higher usage, Walton-like PG and maybe he still will be elsewhere but he just didn't command a pick and roll to create shots for himself or others like the alpha we hoped he would become.
DDJ did not start when X was out. The 5 was Brooks, Franz, Livers, Johns, Teske.
Really? Then why would DDJ transfer? He clearly saw the writing on the wall. He wasn't starting here.
Both ways. It is very Michiganesque to lose someone that was a starter when Simpson went out and now Simpson is gone. DeJulius had flashes and at Michigan and maybe he would’ve blossomed. I don’t know enough about our incoming class but listing Michigan’s traditional point guard options next year I would’ve had DeJulius first.
Not exactly the 2-and-done we'd hoped for. Good luck DDJ! We will be rooting for you.
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That pretty much summed up Brian's opinion of the comment section, though, didn't it? ;)
This makes little sense to me. DDJ to me seemed poised to step up his game next year as a critical piece of Michigan’s puzzle. I figured him starting at the point. I can only imagine this means Josh Christopher is a silent commit.
This doesn't make sense to me at all. He was on an exact replica of the arc Derrick Walton took to become a major contributor on a really good team. Now he's going to start over at a place that more likely than not will not be as good? Hopefully he changes his mind.
I really like the D Walton comparison. I’m bummed about this.
Is DJ Carton an option? He was heavily recruited by Beilein before picking OSU.
I was completely unimpressed from what I saw from him at OSU. Thought we dodged a bullet.
i completely disagree. showed flashes, especially for a frosh. and he has good height and athleticism for a PG.
This hurts, I was a big DDJ fan. Mostly because his look was slowly turning into Jake Shuttlesworth from "He Got Game", but also because he was instant offense and just really fun to watch. I wish him luck and will be interested to see where he lands. I could see him being a 25+ ppg guy at a mid-major if that is what he is looking for .
Really hope this means we got Aiken. Relying on Brooks or a true freshman at the point doesn’t sound great. JC will be great but he’s not really a facilitator, from what I understand.
I’m guessing that this means that Juwan views Zeb as a guy who’ll be ready to start for the 2021-22 season.
Really hope this means we got Aiken. Relying on Brooks or a true freshman at the point doesn’t sound great. JC will be great but he’s not really a facilitator, from what I understand.
I’m guessing that this means that Juwan views Zeb as a guy who’ll be ready to start for the 2021-22 season.
Nobody knows what would have happened between now and the fall, and DDJ looked much better this year, but I think he lacked something needed to start as a pg on a top-20 team. Maybe it was just height and experience, but I was never entirely comfortable with him running the half-court game. He kept the ball in his hands too much for my taste. Brooks has a lot of deficiencies as a point guard, but he's hung around and is passable as a second chip-in point guard. He's also a reliable third option who can sometimes thow in a bunch.
So I'm hoping someone's coming who can play point more effectively than either. Wish DDJ well. We'll miss you!
Zeb is barely playing in High School?? Who is ahead of him?
Montverde's talent is ridiculous this year. Zeb was ranked #65 in the country. There are seven players ranked higher than him on Montverde's roster including five 5-stars.
After seeing DDJ in HS, I thought he had a chance to be a great college player. And it seemed as if he still had a chance to be very good. Did not want to see him go.
Was always puzzled by the seeming complete lack of confidence as a freshman...he even looked terrible on free throws...from a guy who was a cold blooded gunner in HS. But much better as a sophomore, and looked ready to make another leap next year.
Man, I get it. Each kid gets one run and has to be for himself... can’t begrudge.
But damn.
No wonder J.B. got out. It just kind of sucks for coaches and fans.
If today was a hooked fish, I’d throw it back.
PANIC!
I hear his floor slapping really ticked off the coaches and they told him to clean out his locker.
/s just in case
Woah my comment sparked a crazy thought. Could MSU be his destination? No more Winston and Loyer isn’t even a mid major level player. Instant alpha dog status on that team.
There is literally zero chance that is happening.
Speaking of which, I always feared that.... is there some sort of inhibitor that the player cannot transfer to a main rival ?
I think the (basketball) issue was that he is really a '2' guard more than a natural point...and even though he improved a lot as a defender, his slight stature is not ideal for defending 2s. Christopher, if he really signs, is obviously going to get a lot of time at the 2, and maybe even Wagner can slide down there on occasion as well. Also, I would really like to see Bajema get more time at the 2 or 3 spot--hint, hint, JH! And if he is as good as I think/hope he can be, the only loss really is at the backup point guard position...still leaves an apparent hole, though.
Can't imagine what is driving him to transfer. For a kid from Detroit, it's hard to beat being a starter/key contributor for a fairly loaded Michigan team.
He is looking for his best chance to get to the NBA. If he is transfering from Michigan he no longer thinks Michigan is the best place to get him there. Might be too stacked of a roster, too many really good players at his position, etc.
More news coming for MMB ?
Wonder if Maryland would be a possible destination. He seemed close with Haynes - and they have the spots for PG.
That's what I've heard as a strong possibility. I've always liked Maryland (pre-B1G days), but I really don't want him playing for another B1G school. Missouri or Marquette would be cool.
THIS SUCKS
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