CHICAGO — Dusty May couldn’t talk about Yaxel Lendeborg, the prized transfer debating between Michigan and the NBA. But in a one-on-one conversation with MLive on Thursday at the NBA draft combine, it’s clear the Michigan basketball coach loves his roster regardless of what Lendeborg decides.
May has been busy since his first season in Ann Arbor ended with a surprise run to the Sweet 16. He retained four players — a relatively large number in modern college basketball — added four transfers, and has continued his fundraising efforts to balloon Michigan’s NIL budget.
Last season’s success helped on all fronts. “With the way Vlad (Goldin) and Danny (Wolf) played, we were very appealing to anyone over 6-foot-8,” May said. “A lot of big guys that went in a portal I don’t want to say recruited us, but they were very receptive because of the way Vlad and Danny and Will (Tschetter) played this year.”
Lendeborg said on Wednesday that Wolf’s role at Michigan was a main reason he committed to the Wolverines. The UAB transfer is a do-it-all forward with playmaking abilities. Only two players in the country led their team in all five major statistical categories last season. Duke’s Cooper Flagg, who will be the top pick in next month’s draft, and Lendeborg.
Because Lendeborg has not signed his scholarship agreement (only an NIL collective contract), May couldn’t discuss him publicly. It’s evident May views that recruitment as a calculated risk. May could swing big this offseason because he already likes his team’s dynamics. If Lendeborg stays in the draft, there’s no comparable replacement, but Michigan might still look to add someone, either a college veteran or an international prospect.
“We’re not going to ever stop recruiting,” May said. “And we have guys that can slide up and down the lineup and that gives you some flexibility.”
Two Big Ten players are officially in the fold, though May hadn’t discussed them publicly until Thursday. Aday Mara is a 7-foot-3 center who averaged 13 minutes, 6.4 points, four rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game as a sophomore at UCLA last season. He shot 59 percent from the field, all 2-point shots.
“When he went in the portal, it was a very, very easy decision to go after him,” May said. “I think he’s got a big, big upside, and he had a really good second half of the year.”
As for why he left UCLA, May didn’t want to speak for him but said many players benefit from a fresh start. Goldin, who saw Mara up close when Michigan visited UCLA, was impressed. “I think he deserved to play more than he did,” Goldin said. “Extremely skilled,” added Wolf.
Michigan fans are hoping he can fill Goldin’s very large shoes. “Obviously they’re different, but I think he can be just as impactful in his own way,” May said. “I don’t expect him to be Vlad from Day One, but over time, he could be as impactful as a player at Michigan as Vlad was.” Goldin, remember, was a first-team All-Big Ten selection.
Another potential frontcourt starter is Morez Johnson Jr., who made 30 appearances with eight starts as a freshman at Illinois last season. “He addresses our defensive rebounding issues,” May said. “He’s switchable (defensively). He’s another great human being. His family and coaches have done an amazing job with him. He’s mature, he’s about winning.
“You know there’s a lot of stuff out there perception-wise that he wanted this or wanted that. All he said to us was he wanted to continue to expand his game and get into some dribble handoffs and just do a little bit more, and as he gets better and grows, just continue to add more and expand this game.
“And we do that with all of our guys. If you put in the work, we’re going to help you try to maximize your own individual talent while we win.”
It would be easy to think that May tried to recreate the Wolf-Goldin dynamic, but his mission is to assemble the most talented guys who fit the culture. “I like really good players that are great teammates over recruiting to a plan,” he said.
Michigan also brought in North Carolina point guard Elliot Cadeau, an addition that coincided with Tre Donaldson’s departure. “He’s a true point guard,” May said of Cadeau. “He’s a pass-first point guard. We expect him to run our team, push tempo.”
Michigan’s transfer class ranks second in the country according to 247Sports.
In an era of annual roster overhauls, May is thrilled to have two starters and two other rotation guys back: Nimari Burnett, Roddy Gayle Jr., Will Tschetter, and L.J. Cason. “Four guys who have great work ethic,” May said, “who have great basketball and life character, who will be in our locker room every day with new guys who have the same desire to win at a high level that they do.”
He said all of them were offered more money to play elsewhere. There’s a “shared sacrifice” on this roster, he said, in pursuit of a national championship. It helps that Michigan has the financial resources to be competitive with any program in the country.
May debunked the report that Michigan had a $10-million budget for next season. He said most programs’ actual budgets are lower than what is reported. There might be estimates about the value of a roster, but that doesn’t mean the school spent that much. Michigan got great value last year, ranking near the bottom of the Big Ten in spending but near the top in wins.
May’s fundraising efforts are commendable; he credits the school’s collective and its large donor base.
None if it works if Michigan doesn’t win. After going 8-24 the year before, the Wolverines went 27-10 and added a Big Ten Tournament trophy to Crisler Center.
Here at the combine this week, two Michigan men were on the court and a potential future Wolverine has been one of the event’s headliners. If you saw May, wearing a block ‘M’ pullover, he was probably smiling. Like so many prospects at the combine, Michigan’s future looks bright.