Michigan center Hunter Dickinson returning for sophomore season

The decision that Michigan Wolverines fans have been waiting for is in.

After weeks of speculation, center Hunter Dickinson will be returning to Ann Arbor for his sophomore season and putting his plans for the NBA Draft on hold. This gives Michigan its centerpiece as it hopes to make another deep run through the NCAA Tournament next season.

Dickinson has been seen as a potential second-round prospect, but there have not been a ton of mock drafts that featured his name. The process still allowed him to chat with NBA teams about what he needs to work on as he rounds his game into form.

There have been plenty of photos going around social media of Dickinson’s transformed physique as well as improved consistency on his jump shots. That is an aspect of his game we did not see a ton of last year, but something he showed on his high school tape. Dickinson being able to stretch the floor a bit more could open up a world of possibilities for Michigan’s title chances.

“The window’s definitely open (for a return),” Dickinson said in an interview with Andy Katz last month. “That’s why I was big on trying to get an NCAA-certified agent. I wanted guidance in the process, but I also wanted to retain my eligibility. That was a very important thing for me just so I could have that safety net of having the opportunity or option of coming back to school.”

“The decision for me to enter the draft was a really tough one for me because I think it was just two great situations for me to either stay in college for another year or try to enter the NBA and become a professional athlete,” Dickinson would go on to say. “Both decisions were decisions that I was okay with, so I think that’s why it took me so long. I think my heart was with the NBA, so that’s where I wanted to go.”

Dickinson was a second-team All-American as a true freshman at Michigan this past season, averaging 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.