Dusty May has really exploded onto the scene in recent years. After leading Florida Atlantic on that crazy run to the Final Four in 2023, he’d accept the Michigan job the following season after more success with the Owls. Inheriting a team coming off a rough campaign, May has been phenomenal already in Ann Arbor, taking last year’s Wolverines to 27 wins, the Big Ten Tournament title, and a Sweet Sixteen.
A few big pieces from last season won’t be back, and that success wouldn’t have happened without 7-footers Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf. The Wolverines also shed Tre Donaldson, losing him to the transfer portal, but get some significant names back for more. The backcourt is in great shape with Nimari Burnett and Roddy Gayle returning while Will Tschetter steps into a larger role after decent production as a reserve.
As if May’s first twelve months weren’t already impressive, Michigan landed one of the best transfer classes in the nation with four studs joining the program. Aday Mara is a 7-3 center coming from UCLA and hoping to become a major paint presence with a new opportunity. The Wolverines should also see great strides from Morez Johnson Jr., who showed plenty of potential with Illinois last season. Another very important new weapon is Elliot Cadeau who slides over from North Carolina and will run the point this season.
Last but certainly not least is one of the top names in the transfer portal and you can guarantee Yaxel Lendeborg will have Michigan fans excited these next few months. A 6-9 forward from New Jersey, he began his career at Arizona Western at the JUCO level before finding a great landing spot with UAB. Each of the last two seasons saw him named First Team All-AAC and the league’s Defensive Player of the Year thanks to his monster production, including 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game.
An absolute machine and a unique new weapon, Lendeborg wasn’t just one of the top scorers in the AAC but finished 3rd in the nation in rebounding and showed insane promise on the defensive end. He doesn’t have the same size as those outgoing 7-footers but that doesn’t matter in the slightest. Lendeborg immediately becomes a player to watch in the Big Ten, especially if he can put together another complete season.
Michigan looks like a team that can compete for a national title in May’s second season in Ann Arbor. This four-pack of new transfers really is that talented and helps build what should be one of the nation’s best starting fives for this upcoming season. Lendeborg will have a major role at the center of the action and the only question is if he can continue to be an elite scorer, rebounder, and defender in the Big Ten after sheer domination in the AAC with the Blazers.