'More to prove': Hunter Dickinson explains decision to return to Michigan

Michigan Wolverines basketball got huge news from big man Hunter Dickinson when he announced he’ll return for his junior season in Ann Arbor.

Dickinson declared for the 2021 NBA Draft and went through the process last season, before returning for what he called ‘one last ride.’

However, Dickinson’s situation proved that plans change.

He led Michigan in scoring for a second consecutive season and helped lead the Wolverines to their fifth straight Sweet 16 appearance. The 7-1, 260-pounder averaged 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest, while shooting 56.3 percent overall and 32.8 percent from beyond the arc. While improving his game, he also benefitted from the NCAA’s new Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rules, signing endorsement deals and making money in other ways.

That helped his return to Michigan a possibility, Dickinson said on the Defend The Block podcast with Brian Boesch. While he expanded his arsenal on the floor, he also said he wants to be even more ready for the jump to the next level.

“I kinda had a feeling, the way NIL was going and just how I kind of still really liked college, that the door was always open for me to come back,” Dickinson said. “If you would’ve said at the beginning of the year, asked me if I would’ve come back for another year, I would’ve told you, no way. But I think with NIL, that door definitely opened it up for me to come back, and I’m really happy and excited for another year under Coach Howard.

“I just didn’t feel like I was done with college basketball yet. I feel like I still had more out there to prove, and more still to work on. When I go to the NBA eventually — I feel like I could’ve went last year. I know I could’ve gone this year. But the biggest thing for me was when I get there, I want to be as ready as possible for the next level. I don’t want to have to continue to work on more stuff — I just want to be as ready as humanly possible.

“I feel like another year at Michigan would be a really good benefit for me.”

His head coach has seen both sides. Like Dickinson, Juwan Howard was an All-American big man at Michigan. He played 19 years in the NBA, then was an assistant coach in the league before returning to his alma mater. Howard and Dickinson have a close relationship, and the coach has been a sounding board during the decision-making process. Ultimately, Dickinson said being able to play for Howard factored “a lot” into his choice to stay in school.

“Coach Howard has been telling me everything I need to work on, everything I gotta get better at, in terms of the next level,” Dickinson said. “It’s just a matter of me buying in and really dedicating everything, all my energy, towards trying to improve on what I need to work on for the next level.”

Hated by opponents, loved by the Michigan faithful, Dickinson has already built a strong legacy with the Wolverines. He’ll have the chance to add to it next year and potentially beyond, and that matters to the fan favorite.

“You talk about that legacy stuff, that stuff means a good deal to me,” Dickinson explained. “Hopefully, if I continue my play, who knows what’ll happen with that. I know my goal this year, academically, is definitely to try to graduate. I’d be really proud of myself if I’m able to accomplish that goal. I know my parents would be really proud of me. It’s something I feel like I would be taking full advantage of the college experience if I’m able to accomplish that. 

“That legacy stuff does mean something to me. If I were able to … I can’t even think that far ahead, but whatever happens, happens — and I’m just going to try to leave my mark before I leave this university.”

Hunter Dickinson Reflects On 2021-22 Michigan Season

Michigan was a preseason top-10 team but didn’t live up to expectations. The Wolverines finished 19-15 overall, but the year was highlighted by the Sweet 16 berth. While there were bumps in the road, Michigan made the most of the end of the season, beating Colorado State and Tennessee in the Big Dance.

“I was just so happy that we were able to have that run at the end of the season that we did,” Dickinson said. “Obviously, we still fell short of our goal, we still felt like we should’ve won that game. I still get upset with myself with how I played [in the Sweet 16 loss to Villanova], and I feel like if I would’ve just made a couple more shots here and there, we would’ve won.

“But for us to be able to make that run. I remember I was thinking about it, I was like, ‘Man, all these teams that had way better regular seasons than us, those teams didn’t win their conference finals and they lost in the round of 32.’ If you think about it, we had better seasons than them. I’m not gonna name some names at the colleges, but we had a more successful season, technically.

“And really thinking about it like that, I was thinking, ‘Dang, it wasn’t really that disappointing of a season.’ Obviously, we were preseason top five, we had so many expectations and goals going into the season, and obviously we didn’t really meet any of those, but when I look back, it’s really that tournament run that really defines the season for me.

“You can look at the bad losses we had — Minnesota, we had a bad loss at UNC, we just feel like we weren’t ready for that game. You look at the other losses that kind of hurt us and set us back a little bit, but it’s easy to do that. I just remember the high moments — the Purdue game at home, I feel like that might’ve been our best game of the season, honestly. Everybody was clicking and it was just so fun out there for us. Definitely the NCAA Tournament run is the thing that I’ll remember the most about that team.”

And now he’s got the chance to make more Michigan memories next year.