Michigan in contact with Coastal Carolina transfer guard DeVante Jones

The Michigan Wolverines continue to explore building the roster for the 2021-22 season and appear to be perusing the transfer portal once again. Coastal Carolina star guard DeVante Jones heard from Michigan’s staff on Tuesday morning, according to a report from 247Sports.

Other schools that have made contact include Texas, TCU, Oklahoma State, Memphis, Georgia, Texas Tech, St. John’s, Cincinnati and Virginia Tech.

Jones averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.8 steals per game this season at Coastal Carolina en route to being named the Sun Belt’s player of the year.

“In my next school, I’m looking to join a winning culture with a loving community,” Jones told ESPN.com. “I’ll only have one year so I just want the chance for a coach to trust in me to put the ball in my hands and trust me to make game-winning plays. But also, I want to be around a group of guys who love the game as much as me, if not more.”

The criteria above would seemingly make Michigan a strong contender for his services. Jones, who stands 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, has primarily played the two in his college career. Michigan could use another body at the guard position with Mike Smith and Chaundee Brown departing, so this could be a good fit for both sides.

Eli Brooks opted back into the program for a fifth season, which gives Michigan much-needed experience at guard. Behind him is sophomore Zeb Jackson and a pair of true freshmen in Frankie Collins and Kobe Bufkin. Plugging a talented guard like Jones into the mix would be a major positive, but the Wolverines will have a battle on their hands if they are truly interested.