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Posted on Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 7:25 p.m.

Anthony Wright not coming back for fifth year and DeShawn Sims to Portsmouth

By Michael Rothstein

Anthony Wright has one more year of eligibility with the Michigan basketball team remaining, but it sounds like the senior from Sterling, Va. won’t be using it.

Wright redshirted his freshman year at Michigan after being recruited by Tommy Amaker, but hasn’t played much this season, averaging career-lows in minutes (nine) and points (1.4).

He also hasn’t played in three of Michigan’s last four games and only played Saturday in the final seconds of the Wolverines’ 66-55 loss to then-No. 9 Ohio State.

Plus he graduates this spring with a degree in sociology, so the 6-foot-6 forward who had a child during the season will likely have his final home game Tuesday against Minnesota.

“We made sure he was on track to graduate,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “It is his senior year, yes.”

Sims to Portsmouth

The pre-draft tournament at Portsmouth, Va., once a haven for all the best players and first-round picks in college basketball, now houses guys who will be sleepers looking for exposure.

Michigan senior forward DeShawn Sims said Monday he has received an invitation and will attend the 58th version of the tournament from April 7-10 at Churchland High School.

“I’m going to go to Portsmouth,” Sims said.

No lineup changes

Just because Tuesday is senior day, don’t expect ceremonial changes in the starting lineup.

Beilein said Monday he isn’t going to deviate from the usual starting lineup of Sims, junior guard Manny Harris, sophomore guards Stu Douglass and Zack Novak and freshman guard Darius Morris at the beginning of the game, but he will work in both other seniors, Wright and forward Zack Gibson.

This and that

Michigan will hold a care package drive Tuesday before the Minnesota game to benefit the U.S. Armed Forces to send items to Task Force-12 in the Khakrez District of the Kandahar Province. Preferred donation items - including pens, pencils, notebooks, reading glasses, socks, T-Shirts, protein bars, hand and baby wipes, crayons, hard candy and soccer balls - can be dropped off at either Gate E or Gate A in Crisler Arena. … Redshirt freshman center Ben Cronin, sidelined with a career-ending hip injury, is in New Orleans during Michigan’s spring break on a mission trip.

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.

Comments

81wolverine

Tue, Mar 2, 2010 : 11:02 a.m.

I always thought Wright has some talent, but unfortunately he didn't develop enough to be a consistent contributor. At times, he really showed a good shooting ability. It just wasn't consistent enough. I'm a little disappointed he never really showed an ability to use his size to become an effective rebounder. That's something Michigan has sorely needed. But, I'm happy he got his degree and will be moving on in life. The best of luck to him!

2sweetblue

Tue, Mar 2, 2010 : 9:07 a.m.

One walk on down 12 to go

stan

Tue, Mar 2, 2010 : 7:05 a.m.

Has it been confirmed that Ben Cronin's hip injury is career-ending?