INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Head Basketball Coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines reacts during the second half of a NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four game against the Arizona Wildcats at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 91-73.

Michigan reloads with 9 newcomers for another hopeful title run

The Associated Press
21 days ago
Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images Sport / Getty

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan has reloaded, shooting to repeat as college basketball national champions with nine newcomers.

Wolverines coach Dusty May announced Tuesday that three players have been added from the transfer portal and two incoming freshman are joining four high school seniors who were signed in November.

May had to add an influx of talent because All-America player Yaxel Lendeborg exhausted his eligibility while Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr. and Elliot Cadeau declared for the NBA draft.

Michigan landed three players from the portal: Moustapha Thiam, a 7-foot-2 center from Cincinnati; J.P. Estrella, a 6-foot-11 forward from Tennessee; and Jalen Reed, a 6-foot-10 forward from LSU.

Brandon McCoy, a guard who is ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the country by 247Sports, joins forward Lincoln Cosby to cap a recruiting class with previously signed players: Quinn Costello, Joseph Hartman, Marcus Moller and Malachi Brown.

The Wolverines won their second national championship and first since 1989 earlier this month and days later, May agreed to a deal that athletic director Warde Manuel said would put him under contract for many more years.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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