Where new Michigan guard Jaelin Llewellyn checks in on ESPN's top transfer rankings

For a third straight season, Michigan Wolverines basketball landed a mid-major guard in the transfer portal. This time around, head coach Juwan Howard plucked fifth-year senior graduate transfer Jaelin Llewellyn out of Princeton, after taking Coastal Carolina’s Devante’ Jones last season and Columbia’s Mike Smith the campaign prior.

Llewellyn, a 6-2, 185-pounder, is another number in an otherwise thin Michigan backcourt, especially after sophomore-to-be point guard Frankie Collins entered the transfer portal just one day after the former Princeton standout’s commitment. The Wolverines have three guards by trade — Llewellyn, freshman point Dug McDaniel and sophomore combo Kobe Bufkin (6-4, 175) — on the roster, plus some others, such as freshman Jett Howard, a 6-7, 220-pounder, who are primarily wings but can shift to the backcourt.

He was also one of Michigan’s top options in the transfer portal, one of two who visited Ann Arbor. Texas Tech transfer Terrence Shannon Jr. also made an official trip to see the Wolverines, but he wound up at Illinois after U-M appeared to be the favorite.

According to ESPN.com staff writer Jeff Borzello, Llewellyn is the 60th-best overall player and 38th-ranked guard out of transfers across the country, after averaging 15.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists last year, shooting 45.1 from the field and 38.3 percent from three-point land.

“A talented guard coming out of high school, Llewellyn has been one of the best guards in the Ivy League,” Borzello wrote. “Earned first-team All-Ivy honors after averaging 15.8 points and shooting 39.6 percent from three-point range this season.”

And now he’ll help boost Howard’s backcourt.

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The addition of Llewellyn doesn’t mean Howard and Michigan are done in the transfer portal, either. Sophomores Caleb Houstan, a 6-8, 205-pound wing, and Moussa Diabate, a 6-10, 210-pound forward, both declared for the NBA Draft while keeping their NCAA eligibility for the time being. If they both return, the Maize and Blue will be at the 13 scholarship limit. If one or both stay in the draft, they’ll have room to take one or two more — and they’re not in on any undecided 2022 recruits at this time. If Michigan makes room for another scholarship, adding another wing to the roster may be in order.

Notable Transfers Headed To Other Big Ten Schools

Michigan wasn’t the only Big Ten school to bring in a top-60 transfer, with several others getting in on the trend.

Shannon is the most notable college player headed to the Big Ten, with Illinois securing the No. 14-ranked transfer’s commitment late last week.

“Shannon never quite got going this season after being suspended to start the campaign and then dealing with nagging injuries,” Borzello wrote. “But he put up numbers when healthy and has a track record of production in college that should translate in Champaign. Averaged 10.4 points.”

Maryland is another who hit the transfer portal hard last season, landing guard Fatts Russell from Rhode Island and big man Qudus Wahab out of Georgetown (Wahab entered the portal after the 2022 season). This offseason, Michigan’s Big Ten foe reeled in former Charlotte point guard Jahmir Young, the 23rd-best player in the portal.

“A noteworthy addition to the portal, Young was a first-team All-Conference USA selection this past season after averaging 19.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists,” Borzello wrote. “Born in Maryland, he had a host of high-majors in pursuit before landing in College Park.”

Ohio State had some holes to fill, specifically in its backcourt after freshman phenom Malachi Branham bolted for the NBA Draft and announced he won’t return to Columbus. They picked up two shooting guards in former Wright State standout Tanner Holden (ranked No. 27 by Borzello) and former West Virginia Mountaineer Sean McNeil (No. 54).

“Holden was a first-team All-Horizon League selection after averaging 20.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists,” Borzello wrote of the new member of Michigan’s rival. “Should be a versatile player for [head coach] Chris Holtmann in Columbus after the departure of [forward] E.J. Liddell.

“McNeil has started 55 games over the last two seasons for Bob Huggins’ program, establishing himself as a consistent perimeter threat. Averaged 12.1 points and shot 36.8% from 3 this past season. He’s ranked as a top-10 3-point shooter in the Big 12 each of the last two seasons.”

Minnesota, which had a rough 2022 season under first-year head coach Ben Johnson but returns most of its players and appears to have an upward trajectory, landed former North Carolina power forward Dawson Garcia, a former four-star, top-50 recruit according to the On3 Consensus. He slots No. 33 on Borzello’s set of rankings.

“A sought-after transfer last summer, Garcia left the Tar Heels midseason to go back home and deal with family health issues,” Borzello wrote. “He never returned to Chapel Hill, and will remain in his home state with the Golden Gophers. He averaged 9.0 points for the Tar Heels.”