It’s been a whirlwind couple of months for Michigan basketball fans. Even more so, it’s been a whirlwind couple of months for former Michigan basketball transfer commit Caleb Love. In March, he made his decision to enter the transfer portal, leaving North Carolina before committing to play for the Wolverines in April. Then, in a turn of events, he shockingly decommitted from Michigan and has committed to play for the Arizona Wildcats.

Former Michigan basketball transfer commit Caleb Love is an Arizona Wildcat

When shooting guard Caleb Love committed to Michigan basketball, Wolverine fans once again had something to be excited about. Following a disappointing season ending in a trip to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), things needed to change.

Naturally, coach Juwan Howard took to the transfer portal to find a potential new star for the program. It seemed like Caleb Love was going to be that guy before he surprised the world and decommitted. Now, it appears the former five-star commit is headed to Tucson, AZ.

I now present to you… “Savage Mode 2” #BearDown🐻⬇️🅰️ pic.twitter.com/brS7oXuWV0

— Caleb Love (@caleb2love) May 30, 2023

The Arizona Wildcats are getting a good one in Caleb Love. Through three seasons at North Carolina, Love recorded 14.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Not to mention, he’s an elite shot creator who is more than capable of making something out of nothing.

With Caleb Love officially headed elsewhere, Michigan basketball still has plenty of questions to attend to. Since the 2022-23 season ended, the Wolverines have lost out on stud players like Jett Howard, Kobe Bufkin, Hunter Dickinson and now Caleb Love. The team still has plenty of talent, but not much of it is proven.

If coach Juwan Howard hopes to pick up any extra pieces before next season, he needs to get on it soon. While the transfer portal is still technically open, many of the top options have already committed elsewhere. The future of Michigan basketball could still be bright, but coach Howard has plenty of work ahead of him.

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With the recent decommitment of Caleb Love, the Michigan basketball program has some questions to answer. One of the most concerning questions is the guard/wing positions. After losing small forward Jett Howard and guard Kobe Bufkin to the draft, the two positions became immediate concerns. While many Michigan fans thought guard Caleb Love would turn out to be the answer, it unfortunately was not to be. Now, it’s time for coach Juwan Howard to take a good hard look at the transfer portal yet again. One possible answer comes from SEC territory as former McDonald’s All-American Julian Phillips could be exactly what the Wolverines need.

Former McDonald’s All-American could be just what Michigan basketball needs

When we look at the Michigan basketball team heading into 2023, there are a few pretty major concerns to say the least. Possibly the biggest concern is elite guard and wing play, as most of their production from this past year is headed to the NBA. Now, as coach Juwan Howard and Michigan basketball likely turns to the transfer portal yet again, one particular name from down south might be the perfect match.

Forward Julian Phillips was a freshman this past year playing for the Tennessee Volunteers. Throughout the season, he recorded 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 41.1 percent from the field. For whatever reason, despite shooting the ball at a high rate all season long, he wasn’t put in position to be a major factor on the Volunteer offense, likely being the cause for his transfer decision.

BREAKING: Tennessee SF Julian Phillips plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, per @Cassidy_Rob.

He was a 5-star recruit in the class of 2022👀https://t.co/WyTpKeP1dW pic.twitter.com/eamewRInQQ

— On3 (@On3sports) May 10, 2023

Coming out of high school, he was listed as No. 19 player in the country and a five-star prospect per 247Sports. He also happened to be a McDonald’s All-American, so he has elite talent without a doubt. Even despite his lack of eye popping stats this past season, he was invited to the NBA Draft Combine before he elected to return and transfer. He’s that good.

With wing being a major concern for Michigan basketball heading into next season, it would be wise to at least give Julian Phillips a look. Juwan Howard knows how to get players into the NBA. Julian Phillips more than likely has NBA aspirations. This could be a perfect matchup for all parties, so keep an eye on Phillips as he continues to weigh his options for his future home.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

One of the most significant offseason decisions made by Juwan Howard following the conclusion of the Wolverines’ 2022-23 campaign was the acquisition of Michigan basketball transfer addition Caleb Love, a former five-star UNC Tar Heel. However, recent news indicates that Love will not be joining the University of Michigan, despite his reaffirmed commitment just a few weeks ago.

Michigan basketball transfer addition Caleb Love will not be attending the University of Michigan

Today, news broke that Caleb Love has decided to enroll elsewhere following around a month of commitment to Juwan Howard’s program. In college recruiting, especially with the portal, nothing is official until ink hits paper, and this further proves that. Love was poised to be one of the top players for the Wolverines next season, though it appears that he as opted to head elsewhere for the 2023-24 season.

Caleb Love, a former five-star point guard recruit from North Carolina, has three years of experience from his time at UNC, where he showcased his skills and abilities. In the previous season (2022-23), Love averaged an impressive 16.7 points per game, 2.8 assists per game, and 3.7 rebounds per game. His arrival fills a crucial need for experience and scoring on the upcoming 2023-24 Michigan basketball roster, making him a significant acquisition for Juwan Howard and the team.

This unexpected transfer portal loss is a huge blow to the Michigan basketball program ahead of a crucial fourth season for Juwan Howard. After a pitiful season in 2022-23, the Wolverines are going to need to find more guard depth and bring in some talent late in the transfer portal cycle in hopes of replacing the talent that Caleb Love was bound to bring.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!