Michigan basketball signee Christian Anderson Jr. decommits after coaching change

Michigan basketball’s 2024 recruiting class is now down to one.

Christian Anderson Jr., a four-star point guard, announced in a social media post that he will reopen his recruitment due to the Wolverines’ coaching change.

Anderson committed to Juwan Howard in October 2021, before his sophomore season even started, and signed his letter of intent with the Wolverines during the early signing period in November.

But plenty has changed in recent weeks, with the firing of Howard and hiring of former Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May, which has led Anderson to request a release from his NLI.

“I want to take a moment to thank Juwan Howard and his staff for recruiting me since I was a sophomore in high school,” Anderson wrote in a post. “I loved everything about what Michigan was offering.

“However, with the recent news of Michigan parting ways with Juwan and his staff, I’d like to announce that I have reopened my recruitment and will take this time to decide what the best school for me next year will be.”

A 6-foot prospect from Atlanta, Anderson verbally committed to Howard when he was an unknown young guard who didn’t even have a ranking by any major recruiting services. Since then, he’s climbed the recruiting rankings and is rated the ninth-best point guard in the 2024 class.

After spending the first three years of his high school career putting up eye-popping numbers at The Lovett School in Georgia, he transferred and spent his senior season at Virginia’s Oak Hill Academy, where he averaged over 20 points and shot 49% from 3-point range.

Anderson’s decommitment leaves three-star guard Durral Brooks, who was named Michigan’s Mr. Basketball, as the lone recruit remaining in Michigan’s 2024 class. Four-star wing Khani Rooths also decommitted after Howard was fired but before May was hired.

On top of that, the program has seen several players enter the transfer portal since Howard's dismissal, including starting guard Dug McDaniel, starting center Tarris Reed Jr., reserve forward Youssef Khayat and freshman guard George Washington III.

As it stands, May has a bunch of scholarship spots to fill on a depleted roster. Jace Howard, Will Tschetter and Brooks haven’t announced a change in their future plans, while Nimari Burnett and Terrance Williams II both have the extra COVID-19 year of eligibility to use if they wish.

jhawkins@detroitnews.com

@jamesbhawkins