Cole Bajema has elected to transfer from the Michigan Wolverines. Which NCAA Basketball programs are potential fits for the freshman wing?
Coaching changes have always been the toughest part for incoming NCAA Basketball recruits. They commit to playing for one coach before something happens in the Spring that changes everything. Then, those young men have to make a decision regarding what to do with the program. That was the case for Cole Bajema, who originally was set to play for John Beilein before he decided to leave for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA.
The four-star wing elected to stay on with new head coach Juwan Howard and the new Wolverines era. He and fellow four-star recruit Franz Wagner were the lone commits and duked it out for the minutes at the small forward position. It was Franz, the younger brother or Moritz Wagner who won the competition, playing 30 mpg this past season. With he and Isaiah Livers breakout out, it was Bajema who was the odd man out.
He played just 37 total minutes this past season, participating in nine games of garbage time minutes. Bajema did look good when on the floor, scoring a combined 26 points on 10/13 shooting (4/7 from three-point range). The 6’7 wing has always been known as a good shooter but the new coaching staff didn’t believe in him enough to be part of the rotation.
Bajema became the third Michigan player (Colin Castleton and David Dejulius) to enter the portal and is looking for his newest home. Most likely a sit-out transfer, the former four-star prospect had offers from Washington and Virginia among others. The Lynden, Washington native will certainly have teams calling for him soon, with a list of options coming out in a week or so.
For an early guess on where he’ll end up, here is a list of programs that should absolutely contact Bajema to discuss a potential fit.