Michigan basketball: Terrance Williams II talks Frankie Collins, transfer portal
When the season ends, the work is just beginning for college basketball coaches. These days, a team rarely goes through an offseason without attrition to the transfer portal, and that includes Michigan basketball this cycle. The Maize and Blue lost forward Brandon Johns Jr., who will use his extra year of eligibility at VCU, guard Frankie Collins, who bolted one day after U-M picked up a commitment from Princeton transfer guard Jaelin Llewellyn. Collins pledged to Arizona State days later.
Collins’ decision surprised fans at the time, since he was expected to compete for Michigan’s starting point guard job. Llewellyn was going to do the same, but he has versatility and can also play the two-guard spot, so Collins was projected to be in line for some big minutes.
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In a since-deleted tweet, Michigan junior forward Terrance Williams II expressed some frustration with Collins’ transfer, lamenting “politics,” in today’s game. In an appearance on the ‘Defend The Block’ podcast with host Brian Boesch, the 6-7, 230-pounder expanded on his former teammate hitting the portal.
“It was hard when he left,” Williams told Boesch. “I was pretty mad. I feel like he was a big part of this team, upcoming team. But he’s going to do what’s best for him, and I support his decision through whatever he does, because that’s my brother for life.”
Michigan and Arizona State could face off at the Legends Classic in Brooklyn Nov. 16-17, and Collins residing on the Sun Devils’ roster would add quite the subplot.
“Even though he’s going to Arizona State, we’re still going to be close. I’m going to still be checking in on him because that’s my little bro,” Williams continued. “I feel like we’re going to still remain close, but when we play them Nov. 16 in Brooklyn, you already know the smoke is up. He’s on the other side now. But off the court, we’re still going to stay tight. I’m going to miss him, for sure, but that’s my brother for life.”
The transfer portal is tricky for all parties involved. Not only can a close teammate leave at the drop of a hat, a player like Williams, who was firmly in the Michigan rotation last season and could wind up being a starter this winter, could be passed over by an incoming transfer. The Wolverines haven’t gone that route at the wing/forward position so far this offseason, of course, but the possibility exists for any college athlete.
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Williams, known for his work ethic, isn’t fazed, though. After some brief time off following last season, he’s back in Ann Arbor and working on improvement ahead of the 2022-23 Michigan campaign.
“Just taking a one-day-at-a-time approach, just getting one percent better a day,” Williams said of his mindset and blocking out the noise. “I’m going to get in the gym, keep working each day and not worry about what other people talk about on the outside, because I know the work I’m doing, I know the work I’m putting in. I know I got the trust of my brothers in this locker room and the coaches in this program.
“So that outside noise really doesn’t matter to me, because I’m getting better each day, I’m working on my craft, I’m trying to perfect each thing I can do best. Hopefully, however many minutes I play this year, I’m going to show why I’ve been working at these specific things and I’m going to show how locked in I’ve been over this whole entire offseason. And it’s going to show whenever this first game is.”
Williams averaged 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game last season, serving as Michigan’s top bench presence. He was especially key in the NCAA Tournament, scoring nine important points in a 76-68 round of 32 win over Tennessee.
