Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

When asked Monday whether he expected any more departures from his roster, Michigan basketball coach John Beilein hesitated.

Now it might be clear why.

Sophomore Kameron Chatman, who hit the key three-pointer to upset Indiana in the Big Ten tournament and, in essence, send U-M to the NCAA tournament, will transfer. His father, Canaan Chatman, told the Free Press that Chatman has been granted his release.

"It comes with long deliberations and to try to figure this thing out, but Kameron did put in for his release and will be granted his release," Canaan Chatman said. "He just got back home after finishing finals, just exhaled for a second to figure out what his next move is. This is about moving forward, not looking at what's back. I think there's been a lot of change. Kameron is just the latest piece."

ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman reported the likelihood first.

"I honestly don't think I could have had a more quality life experience than I did in Ann Arbor," Chatman said in a released statement. "I am incredibly grateful for my two years at Michigan. I would like to thank Coach Beilein and his entire staff for taking a chance on a small town kid out of Portland. I know my experience has inspired others as I will take all of my lessons learned to continue my pursuit of becoming the best man and player I can. Go Blue!"

Chatman is the fourth Wolverine to transfer this spring, joining Spike Albrecht (Purdue), Aubrey Dawkins (Central Florida) and Ricky Doyle. He will have to sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Losing both Chatman along with Dawkins is a major blow given that those were the top two wings off the bench late in the season.

Chatman, from Portland, Ore., played less as a sophomore (28 games with two starts) than as a freshman (32 games and 15 starts), and played half as many minutes, concluding his U-M career averaging 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds.. Those were disappointing numbers for a player ranked No. 27 nationally on the 247sports.com rankings coming out of high school.

"Kam is a wonderful young man with the potential to mature into a fine college player," Beilein said in a released statement. "We have enjoyed coaching him over the past two years and wish him nothing but the best."

His field-goal percentage rose to 38% this year, but he still shot 26% from three-point range, which made it tough for U-M to keep him on the floor. He felt that three-pointer against Indiana was an encouraging sign that he would turn the corner.

Chatman and his father both told the Free Press late in the year that he had no plans to transfer and already had signed his lease for his apartment for the spring term. But nearly all other Wolverines headed home for spring, and Beilein confirmed Monday night that Chatman was one of them.

"Retention is still ... things happen in May," Beilein said at the Ufer Quarterback Club dinner Monday. "Things happen in May, so we're still working on all of those things."

Beilein also stressed Monday that U-M's graduate-transfer targets will be wing players.

Without Chatman, U-M would have two open scholarships for next season. (And two open assistant positions and at least one administrative staff member.)

"May is going to be an interesting month, all across the country," Beilein said when talking about acquiring potential transfers. "Free agency is the wrong word, but there's a lot of people. And as people finish classes, all of the sudden, a lot of people change their minds."

Beilein said he didn't mind his players leaving for spring term.

"I'm for it, let them get away. Some might come back June 1," Beilein said.

The question now, apparently, is which ones will.

Contact Mark Snyder at msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder. Download our Wolverines Xtra app on iTunes and Android!