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Michigan Guard Enters CBB Transfer Portal; Potential Destinations

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Michigan transfer Justin Pippen

Michigan combo guard Justin Pippen will enter the transfer portal, per Travis Branham of 247Sports.

Michigan’s Justin Pippen Enters CBB Transfer Portal

A true freshman, Pippen is the son of Hall of Fame forward Scottie Pippen and younger brother of Memphis Grizzlies point guard Scotty Pippen Jr., who played at Central Arkansas and Vanderbilt, respectively. While his pedigree is impressive, he isn’t getting attention just because of them. Coming out of Sierra Canyon, he was a four-star recruit, ranked as the sixth-best player in California by ESPN.

Like his father and brother, Pippen’s playmaking instincts are a strength of his game. However, for him to maximize his chances of reaching the NBA, he needs a lot of reps and a larger role. The Wolverines weren’t giving him either one.

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With that being said, there isn’t enough reporting to do much more than speculate about where he might land.

Potential Destinations

Prior to committing to Michigan, Pippen received offers from Cal, Texas A&M, Sacramento State, UC Santa Barbara, and Northern Arizona.

Because of the attraction players’ home states hold, Cal could be an appealing option. It helps that they have a solid track record of producing NBA talent, with Boston Celtics swingman Jaylen Brown among their former players. Last but not least, Golden Bears starting point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. just finished up his sixth collegiate season; they need a replacement.

With Sacramento State recently hiring Mike Bibby as their next head coach, they may look more attractive than last year. During his playing days, Bibby became a star NBA point guard. His having reached a place that Pippen wants to go could matter, or at least it should. Of course, athletes often want to play for prestigious programs. However, players have to prioritize their development as well. He could get that opportunity with the Hornets.

Arkansas may be a possibility, partly because it’s where his father was raised. Their program may not have the reputation of Kentucky, but they’ll have been built by the same man in famed head coach John Calipari. With that in mind, the Wildcats have developed a handful of future NBA stars. Of note, Arkansas has at least two point guards that could have played their last game for Calipari, including projected 2025 first-round pick Boogie Fland.

Family ties could even lead Pippen to Vanderbilt. In his time there, his brother was highly productive. In fact, he was one of the best players in school history. With that being said, their starting point guard in 2024-25 was A.J. Hoggard, a fifth-year senior. Thus, the Commodores program could be scavenging, looking for a new floor general.

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