MNB: Auburn transfer portal defector would provide UM needed depth
Auburn basketball transfer portal defector Chance Westry is on the University of Michigan’s radar following his March 28 announcement he’d be leaving the Plains — and Maize n Brew’s Kellen Voss believes Westry would fill a major need for the Wolverines in 2023-24.
“Looking at Michigan’s potential rotation next season, the Wolverines badly need more guards, especially if Kobe Bufkin and Jaelin Llewellyn end up moving on,” Voss wrote. “Westry, at the very least, would provide the Wolverines depth, and he has the talent to develop into a starter.”
Voss believes that Michigan head coach Juwan Howard’s past transfer portal success will lead to an imminent addition for his depleted Wolverines backcourt. “Michigan have been reaching out to a lot of talented transfers,” Voss prefaced before saying, “We know Juwan Howard and company have landed talented guards through the portal in the past, and hopefully they land another one soon.”
Auburn basketball rocked by the transfer portal
Yohan Traore’s decision to leave the Auburn basketball program wasn’t exactly shocking following his banishment from the rotation in the back half of the 2022-23 season, but Westry’s shocking departure marked the Tigers’ future depth’s decimation at the hands of the transfer portal.
Westry seemingly had a ready-made starting role alongside Aden Holloway, Bruce Pearl’s top-10 point guard ace in the hole of the 2023 recruiting cycle. His departure could signal good news on the Wendell Green Jr. front, or it could mean that Pearl is moving in on a veteran in the transfer portal.
Auburn basketball awaiting two major decisions in starting lineup
Pearl could greatly require the transfer portal’s services if he doesn’t return two of his starters from last season who are eligible for a fifth season due to the 2020-21 COVID-19 season, Allen Flanigan and Jaylin Williams.
Neither Flanigan nor Williams figure to be NBA prospects in 2023, and both were in the top four Tigers for shot attempts and top three in minutes last season. Looking for a bigger role elsewhere wouldn’t be why either would leave. As AL.com’s Tom Green said, it’d make sense for both to return.