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Michigan basketball is in the midst of its postseason run to the Sweet Sixteen, but the Transfer Portal has opened and preparations for 2025-26 have begun. And one of the biggest considerations for the Wolverines staff is how to replenish a frontcourt that is set to lose its two biggest starters.
U-M center Vlad Goldin is out of eligibility at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. And C/F Danny Wolf, the Yale transfer who emerged among college basketball's more distinctive players, seems poised to depart for the NBA as well, according to head coach Dusty May.
"There are obviously going to be a few holes that need to be filled when you lose Vlad Goldin, and we anticipate Danny Wolf being an NBA player next year," Dusty May said on "Defend the Block," a Michigan Athletics podcast.
"I would think both of those guys are gonna be in the NBA next year. Then you've gotta fill in some spots up front. I think everyone's aware of that."
May said that two of the team's staffers are "working almost exclusively" on preparing for Auburn, the No. 1 seed that is Michigan's opponent in the Sweet Sixteen. But a couple other members are "splitting time between the next opponent and fielding calls and putting out feelers" in the Transfer Portal, which opened this week.
"You don't know what your roster is gonna look like until the season is over," May said. "... We have to be on our toes and fielding calls and taking in information and being ready to pounce. And hopefully that's not for a couple weeks on Monday, but I would anticipate on that Tuesday morning, I'll be on a plane to go see some guys and help prepare ourselves to be playing next year."
May called the current schedule — with the Transfer Portal opening in the midst of the NCAA Tournament — a "handicap for the teams that are winning" and noted it's been a similar issue with how the football postseason coincides with the winter Transfer Portal window.
"If you start adding players to your roster now, what does that do to the young guys who are working hard? Whatever the case, it's not healthy for your team now for you to be recruiting next year when you don't know what you really need," May said.
Danny Wolf has not publicly commented on his plans for next season. ESPN's Jonathan Givony lists the 7-footer at 19th in his top-100 big board rankings. In February, Givony wrote the following:
"Wolf might be college basketball's most unique player, ranking as the best pick-and-roll player in this draft class while being measured at 7-0," Givony wrote on ESPN. "He's exceptionally skilled with his ability to handle, pass and finish with either hand, and is making 37 percent of his 3-pointers.
"He also rebounds prolifically, makes plays in passing lanes and protects the rim with outstanding basketball instincts. He isn't seeing as many reps at point guard as he did earlier in the season after racking up 22 turnovers in a recent five-game span — NBA teams have seen different sides of his game, however, with the myriad ways he contributes to winning.
"He's a little polarizing among scouts because of his unorthodox style, combined with his average speed, high turnover rate (27 percent) and poor free throw shooting. He will have a lot of NBA eyes on him in March to see how he fares in some of Michigan's biggest games."
Wolf and the Wolverines will face Auburn in the Sweet Sixteen on Friday night in Atlanta.