Jamir Watkins off the table for Michigan basketball

Michigan basketball was hoping to add Florida State standout Jamir Watkins to the roster for the 2024-25 season and after reports of a visit this week, it wasn’t a pipe dream.

It could have happened. For a minute, it seemed like it was going to happen. Michigan basketball doesn’t have many glaring needs but another guy who can play the 3/4 spot is one. Watkins could have helped fill that void for the Wolverines and after withdrawing from the NBA draft, Michigan was one of the contenders.

However, things started to shift in the past two days. Watkins released a list of six teams he was considering which included a return to Florida State. The Seminoles gained momentum and by Thursday, it felt like Michigan or Florida State instead of Michigan or St. John’s.

Jamir Watkins chooses Florida State over Michigan basketball

We got the answer on Friday as Watkins will return to Florida State according to reports. You could kind of see it coming when the visit didn’t happen. Michigan basketball made a lot of sense, but Watkins probably could have been drafted, so he wasn’t going to come back to college without a significant NIL package.

That could have been a factor. However, that’s just speculation. What we know is that Michigan still has one scholarship left. Dusty May said the Wolverines would work urgently to fill it, but the best option might be an open spot going into next season.

A developmental recruit sounds good, but the player still has to meet Michigan’s standards. You don’t want to waste a multi-year scholarship on a guy when you could get a better player in the 2025 class on that same multi-year scholarship.

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