Dusty May exceeded all expectations in his first year with the Michigan Wolverines. He turned an 8-24 team into a 27-10 team. Michigan also won the Big 10 tournament and made a run to the Sweet 16. And the Wolverines made that run on the backs of six transfer players. Michigan’s entire starting five was made up of transfers as well as their sixth man. So Dusty May has dipped back into the transfer portal for 2025 and is building a serious contender.
Replacing the Big Men
With Vlad Goldin out of eligibility and Danny Wolf likely entering the NBA Draft, Michigan quickly found their replacements. The biggest name they landed was UAB’s Yaxel Lendeborg, the top transfer in the portal. Lendeborg averaged 17.7 points per game, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and had 51.8/34.9/77.8 shooting splits. He was also first-team all-AAC, the AAC Defensive Player of the Year, and was a finalist for the Malone Award. The only concern with Lendeborg is he also declared for the NBA Draft. He’s currently projected to go as high as the late first round. If he decides to play one more year of college, he is the perfect Danny Wolf replacement.
May also replaced 7’1″ Vlad Goldin with an even bigger center, former five-star Aday Mara. The 7’3′ center spent his first two seasons with UCLA. This past season he averaged 6.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in just 13 minutes per game. May has a great track record of developing big men, and he could turn Mara into a star. Mara wasn’t the only inter-conference big man transfer Michigan landed. They also got Illinois’ Morez Johnson. Johnson was a true freshman last season, and Illini fans were shocked when he entered the portal. As a freshman, he averaged 7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 64.2%. He stands at 6’9″ and can play the four or the five. He’s a great interior defender and is a double-double threat every night.
Michigan also brings back stretch forward Will Tschetter. Last season Tschetter averaged 6.4 points per game off the bench, and he brought energy every time he touched the court. The Wolverines are loaded with front court talent.
Guard Play
One of the more surprising moves out of Ann Arbor was Tre Donaldson entering the transfer portal. Donaldson started every game last season and hit some big-time shots in tournament play.
TRE DONALDSON AT THE BUZZER!! #22 MICHIGAN UPSETS #11 MARYLAND 81-80 IN THE BIG TEN SEMIFINALS!!
pic.twitter.com/dqSVIrH3uQ— NCAA Buzzer Beaters & Game Winners (@NCAABuzzerBters) March 15, 2025
Although it seems like Donaldson may have been forced out. The day he entered his name into the portal he posted a broken heart emoji on his instagram story. And when Dusty May was asked about it he said, “It’s complicated on a number of levels.” So who was Donaldson pushed out for? That would be UNC transfer Elliott Cadeau. In his two years as a Tar Heel he thrived as the team’s playmaker. Although Cadeau isn’t quite the scorer Donaldson is, he fits the mold of a Dusty May point guard. An excellent passer, especially on lobs, who can be a difference maker on the defensive end. Cadeau is set to breakout in Ann Arbor.
Cadeau isn’t the only new face in Michigan’s back court. He joins five-star freshman Trey McKenney. McKenney was the best player in the state of Michigan, winning back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year awards and three consecutive Michigan AP Player of the Year. He was also named Mr.Basketball of Michigan in March. He is the third highest rated recruit in the history of Michigan basketball. He will fit perfectly into May’s lineup.
IYCMI: Incoming freshman Trey McKenney scored 22 points off the bench to help Team USA post a 124-114 victory over the World Team at the @nikehoopsummit
Trey's 📊 Line
PT: 22
FG: 7-for-9
3FG: 3-for-3
FT: 4-for-5
REB: 4
AST: 1
MIN: 20Box: https://t.co/6O6iYgjFoO#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/b0xpb5dczp
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) April 13, 2025
Michigan also has some back court returnees. L.J. Cason made an impact off the bench as a freshman. He made a huge impact in Michigan’s win over Texas A&M in the round of 32 with 11 points off the bench. Also returning is Roddy Gayle. Gayle transferred from Ohio State and was praised as Michigan’s star in the offseason. But Gayle never found his mojo in conference play and was moved to the bench. He also flashed his potential against the Aggies scoring 26 points.
Michigan also expects Nimari Burnett to return, who would be the lone returning starter from last season. Burnett has one season of eligibility remaining and is an excellent 3&D player.
Michigan’s 2025-26 Outlook
Potential Michigan Lineup
PG – Elliott Cadeau, L.J. Cason
SG – Trey McKenney, Winters Grady
SF – Nimari Burnett, Roddy Gayle
PF – Yaxel Lendeborg, Will Tschetter
C – Aday Mara, Morez Johnson
Dusty May has already laid the foundation down in Ann Arbor and has Michigan back on the map. ESPN has Michigan ranked 5th in their way-too-early top 25. And those ranking were published before Aday Mara announced his commitment.
With impact players returning, a five star freshman, and the number one ranked portal class, the Wolverines have all the pieces for a Final 4 run. If Dusty May could do it with Florida Atlantic, he can certainly do it with this Michigan team.
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