Earlier today, it was announced by the university that three reserves would be transferring out of the Michigan program, but it looks like that may not be the end of the turnover this offseason for the Wolverines.
Trey Burke is heavily considering entering the NBA Draft.
“I think that, for the most part, when you have a season as a freshman like he did, the NBA, they like them young. They think their ceiling is higher when they’re young,” Benji Burke, Trey’s father, told the Detroit Free Press today. “Trey had some good games and a solid season for a freshman. It’s going to be one of the weaker point guard drafts in years.”
“Trey, he would love to come back, because he thinks they’re going to have a good team. In the same breath, how do I pass up the opportunity of a lifetime, and risk injury? There’s risk on both sides. Anytime there’s risk on both and the NBA is one side, I don’t know if I’ll ever be as hot as I am now. If I had to guess, Trey would love to go to the NBA. There’s a lot of uncertainties there, as far as getting drafted first round.”
Losing Burke would mean that, for the third straight season, Michigan would be losing a back court star to the NBA. Two years ago it was Manny Harris, who went undrafted. Last year it was Darius Morris, who was a second round pick.
Losing Morris was thought by many to be a critical blow to this year’s Michigan team, but Burke -- a lightly recruited freshman that wasn’t good enough to get a scholarship from Ohio State despite being lifelong friends with Jared Sullinger -- exploded onto the scene, earning Freshman of the Year honors in the Big Ten and carrying the Wolverines to a share of the Big Ten regular season title.
Losing Burke could be as crippling to Michigan as losing Morris was last season. The Wolverines have a quality recruiting class coming in, but there isn’t a point guard to be found. So much of what John Beilein wants to do offensively relies on having a point guard that can create off the dribble.
Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.