Michigan Basketball officially announces additions of Mike Smith, Chaundee Brown

The Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball program announced on Wednesday the official additions of the pair of transfers they landed this offseason in Columbia point guard Mike Smith and Wake Forest wing Chaundee Brown.

Smith is immediately eligible as a graduate transfer, while the official release from the school states Brown is working to obtain a waiver to be eligible to play this season.

“We are always striving to find the best people to come in and help this program on and away from the basketball court,” head coach Juwan Howard said in the release. “Both Mike and Chaundee are experienced players, experienced leaders and dedicated to academics. Frankly, they are just two wonderful young men. They are the perfect fit for the culture we are building here, and we are counting the days until they arrive in Ann Arbor.”

Smith, who will play out his final season of eligibility in Ann Arbor, averaged 22.8 points per game, 4.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds last season as one of the best players in the Ivy League. Smith started in every game he ever played in at Columbia, but is eligible for one more season after a meniscus injury limited him to only eight games played during his junior year.

“I’m excited for this opportunity to become a Wolverine,” Smith said. “Columbia was such an amazing experience and journey. I know I will cherish it for the rest of my life. The opportunity to play one more season and further my education at the University of Michigan was something I couldn’t pass up. I am very excited to join coach Howard and his great culture. I am ready and willing to do whatever it takes to help this program reach its goals. It’s going to be a year to remember!”

Brown was the No. 36 player nationally according to 247Sports composite rankings coming out of high school. He had offers from schools like Kansas, Indiana and Florida, among others. The 6-foot-5, 220 pound shooting guard averaged 12.1 points and 6.5 rebounds last season for Wake Forest, where he was a three-year starter.

“Being able to play and be mentored by Coach Howard is really a dream come true,” Brown said. “If you would have said to me 10 years ago I would be attending the University of Michigan and playing for Juwan Howard, I would have laughed. He knows the game of basketball well, as he played for U-M and played in the NBA for such a long time. This helps him understand both sides of being a player and having a coaching style, which is such a blessing. Joining such a prestigious basketball program like Michigan really excites me in so many ways. Coming to a new city, meeting new fans, joining new coaches and players is a wonderful feeling. I am definitely ready for this new journey.”

Michigan has one scholarship spot open for the 2020-21 season, but the roster seems set now barring any unforeseen circumstances. The Wolverines had a third transfer in Nojel Eastern — formerly of Purdue — but it was announced last week that he would not be attending due to an academic issue.