Michigan Basketball received a big boost on Thursday afternoon when Franz Wagner announced he would return in 2020-21.
Coach Juwan Howard and Michigan Basketball have dealt with a rash of losses since the offseason began. There’s at least one player they no longer have to worry about losing, though: Franz Wagner.
On Thursday, Howard was able to announce that Wagner would return for his sophomore season. There was at least a possibility that Wagner was going to test the NBA Draft waters (who isn’t at this point?), but Wagner seems comfortable returning to Ann Arbor for another year.
Wagner’s Michigan career didn’t get off to the best start. Before his freshman season even began, the Wolverines lost Wagner to a fractured wrist. He didn’t make his debut until November 27, during the Battle 4 Atlantis.
The 6-foot-8 guard quickly separated himself as a special freshman in the Big Ten, though, making the conference’s All-Freshman team. The German native averaged 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, in addition to 1.3 steals per game, which led the team.
Moritz Wagner’s younger brother only got better as the season progressed, reeling off seven straight double-digit scoring performances to close the year. That includes a career-high 22 points in a win at Purdue on February 22.
Franz Wagner probably wouldn’t have found himself selected in the 2020 NBA Draft. Still, Howard must be breathing a sigh of relief knowing he’ll have at least one solid player back for the 2020-21 season.
The losses have been piling up for the Wolverines this month. Despite not being one of the top prospects, Isaiah Livers remains in the NBA Draft pool. David DeJulius transferred to Cincinnati. Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske have both exhausted their eligibility. And most noteworthy, Isaiah Todd spurned the program and decided to join Jalen Green in the G League instead.
The Wolverines also missed on getting a commitment from top prospect Josh Christopher and failed to lure in top transfer Bryce Aiken, who is making his way to Seton Hall instead. Michigan had to settle for former Columbia guard Mike Smith, who is still a top graduate transfer, though not quite at the level of Aiken.
If Livers decides to stay in the draft, Wagner becomes the best returning player for the Wolverines. He would also be one of just two returning Wolverines to average at least ten points per game in 2019-20, with guard Eli Brooks being the other.
Wagner and Brooks are essentially assured starting spots in Juwan Howard’s rotation next season. Livers would have one waiting for him as well. Smith should beat out incoming freshman Zeb Jackson for the point guard spot as long as he can get up to speed quickly. As Austin Davis recovers from shoulder surgery, Michigan’s starting lineup should be rounded out by 7-foot-2 freshman center Hunter Dickinson.
Moritz Wagner played three seasons in Ann Arbor before moving on to the NBA, where he now plays for the Washington Wizards. Michigan may be lucky to have Franz Wagner for three seasons, but Juwan Howard will gladly take him for at least a second.