Livers was born on July 28, 1998 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Angela and Morris Livers. He started playing basketball at the age of five with his father in the driveway. Michigan began recruiting Livers in May 2016 and he made his official visit on July 28, earning an offer. At the end of his recruitment, he was considering visiting Cal, but decided to cancel the visit and commit to Michigan. On August 7, Isaiah Livers committed to Michigan over contenders Michigan State, Butler, Minnesota, California, and Boston College. Livers signed his National Letter of Intent to Michigan as part of a three-scholarship player incoming class with Jordan Poole and Eli Brooks.
Awards
He was named 2017 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball of Michigan. Livers edged out second-place finisher Xavier Tillman by a 2,811–2,739 vote margin, although Tillman received three more first-place ballots. It was the closest vote in Mr. Basketball of Michigan history. Livers is Michigan's 11th Mr. Basketball of Michigan, but the first since Manny Harris in 2007.
College career
Freshman
On January 2, 2018, Michigan defeated Iowa 75-68 with Livers contributing a career-best 13 points, which was considered a breakout performance. It was the first of three consecutive double-digit efforts off the bench for Livers. This resulted in Livers replacing Duncan Robinson in the starting lineup for Michigan when they faced Michigan State in their rivalry game on January 13. Michigan defeated the Spartans for their first victory on the road against a top-five ranked team since January 25, 2014, ushering their way into the 2017–18 basketball rankings. On January 15, Michigan defeated Maryland 68-67 as Livers heaved an inbounds pass from under the basket across midcourt with three seconds remaining to Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman who drew a foul for the game-winning free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining. Livers rolled his ankle in the second minute of the game against Northwestern on February 6 sidelining him for the rest of the game, which Michigan went on to lose. He missed the next game against Wisconsin before returning to the starting lineup on February 14 against Iowa. Livers was again the inbounds passer from the defensive baseline with 3.6 seconds left in the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament second round game against Houston on March 17, 2018 when Michigan ran a set play that set up Jordan Poole for a buzzer beaterthree point shot resulting in a 64–63 win and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen. The team lost in the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game to Villanova.
Sophomore
On January 13, the 2018–19 Wolverines team defeated Northwestern to establish a school record for best start at 17-0 and tied the school's record 17-game win streak. On February 28, 2019, Michigan defeated Nebraska 82-53. Livers made his first start of the season, replacing an injured Charles Matthews, and posted 12 points and 10 assists, for his first career double-double. On March 14, Michigan defeated Minnesota 76-49 in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, as Livers posted a career-high 21 points.
Junior
On November 12, Michigan defeated Creighton 79–69 in the Gavitt Tipoff Games behind a then career-high 22 points from Livers. On November 22, Michigan defeated Houston Baptist 111–68 behind a career-high 24 points by Livers. Michigan's 111 points were the most points scored in a game since a 112–64 victory over Indiana in 1998. He suffered a groin injury on December 21 in a win over Presbyterian. He missed nine of the next 10 games before facing Michigan State on February 8. On February 16, Livers suffered an ankle injury against Indiana and missed the following game against Rutgers. In his return versus Purdue, Livers had 19 points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal in a 71-63 victory. On March 5, Michigan defeated Nebraska 82–58, as Livers posted 18 points and ten rebounds, for his second career double-double. At the close of the regular season, Livers was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the media. Livers started 21 games and averaged 12.9 points per game while shooting 40 percent from behind the arc. He missed only two free-throws the entire season, making 44-for-46 from the line. Following the season he declared for the 2020 NBA draft but did not hire an agent and left the door open to return for his senior season. On July 17, 2020, Livers announced that he would return to Michigan for his senior season.
