BASKETBALL

Report: Michigan guard Justin Pippen planning to enter transfer portal

The Wolverines will be losing one of their freshman guards after the tournament

Published

2 months ago

March 24, 2025

Michigan guard Justin Pippen (10) makes a jump shot against Iowa during the first half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Michigan men’s basketball freshman guard Justin Pippen is entering the transfer portal, according to 247Sports. The news came less than 48 hours after the No. 5 seed Wolverines beat fourth-seeded Texas A&M Saturday in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Pippen hasn’t seen the floor since Michigan lost to Michigan State to end the regular season on March 9.

Freshman Michigan guard Justin Pippen entering transfer portal

Pippen, son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, was a four-star recruit coming out of Sierra Canyon High (Chatsworth, CA).

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The Los Angeles native appeared in 28 games (zero starts) in the regular season, averaging 1.6 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 6.7 minutes per contest. The freshman scored a season-high 10 points against Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 22, and he played a season-high in minutes (18:40) the same game.

Around halfway through the season, Pippen and fellow freshman guard LJ Cason were swapping minutes seemingly every other game. Cason seemed to gain an advantage in the rotation last month, and subsequently Pippen has played more than six minutes just twice since Feb. 1.

On the other hand, Cason is playing almost 15 minutes per game since the start of the Big Ten tournament. Freshman guard Phat Phat Brooks has appeared in 14 games, including the final 16 seconds of the win over the Aggies.

More: Michigan basketball heading to sweet 16 with 91-79 win over Texas A&M

Next season the Wolverines are set to bring in five-star combo guard and Michigan native Trey McKenney, and that could’ve played a part in Pippen’s decision as well.

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