Another interesting target for Michigan basketball in transfer portal

Michigan basketball head coach Dusty May is casting a wide net as he builds a roster for next season. As it stands, only two players have firmly committed — Will Tschetter and Durral Brooks.

Jace Howard and Nimari Burnett are both on scholarship. Neither has entered the transfer portal. George Washington III, Terrance Williams II, and Tarris Reed are all in the transfer portal. Dug McDaniel committed to Kansas State.

Reed has a bunch of suitors and a return isn’t likely. T-Will said he’s open to a return. Washington has said the same thing. Even if all those guys come back though, Michigan basketball would still have seven scholarships to work with.

Another transfer portal target for Michigan basketball

May has contacted 15 transfers at this point. One that was reported on Monday is former Ball State forward Basheer Jihad. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 18.6 points per game last season in addition to eight rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Jihad is also active on the defensive end, averaging 1.1 steals and blocks per game. That’s in addition to a couple of offensive rebounds per night. The Portal Report reported Michigan’s contact with Jihad but there are plenty of programs in the mix such as Ohio State, Cal, Missouri, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, Rutgers, Miami, and others.

Ball State transfer Basheer Jihad (@basheerjihad11) has received interest from the following programs, he tells @ThePortalReport:

Ohio State
Cal
Mizzou
Virginia Tech
Arizona State
UCF
Temple
Xavier
Michigan
Dayton
Rutgers
Miami pic.twitter.com/aUoVbRIUSR

— The Portal Report (@ThePortalReport) April 8, 2024

Jihad has played three seasons of college basketball. It’s not clear if he’s graduated yet, because that can complicate things from a transfer perspective, at least with Michigan. We all know it’s much easier to get a grad transfer into Michigan than a player with three years worth of credits.

The North Farmington, Michigan native would be a solid fit. May values shooters. He likes 3-4 3-point shooters on the floor at all times and last season, Jihad shot 35 percent from deep with an average of 1.3 makes per game. He’s shot 34 percent for his career and has made 72.5 percent at the free throw line.

You need size in the Big Ten. May also wants shooters. Jihad can fill both needs for Michigan basketball.