When Tre Donaldson hit the transfer portal last week, Michigan basketball fans were likely caught off guard. The point guard is arguably the biggest reason the Wolverines won the Big Ten tournament, as he hit several clutch shots. Donaldson entered the portal one day after Michigan got a commitment from former UNC guard Elliot Cadeau.
Donaldson is now committed to Miami.
Dusty May shares why Tre Donaldson transferred from Michigan
Michigan finished in the No. 10 spot in the final AP poll. A top team is all but guaranteed to lose at least a few bench players, but the player leading in minutes is another story. May said the portal tends to have an effect.
“When certain players come in, it automatically raises red flags with other guys,” May said on Wednesday’s edition of The Michigan Insider. “It’s always impactful. Just like every single player you get out of the portal, it might impact someone else on your roster. It’s happening all over the country. If one guy goes in, another guy might go out, and it’s just part of it.
“But our job is always to do the best job for the University of Michigan, and their job is always to put themselves in the best position for their long-term success.”
Donaldson would’ve been paired with Cadeau in the Michigan backcourt, which likely would’ve meant playing off the ball more. Donaldson is a classic floor general in that he brings the ball up the court almost 100 percent of the time he’s on it, so it seems to be one of the biggest reasons he left. May said Donaldson is better off being able to handle the rock.
“For his long-term potential, he needed the ball in his hands more than half the game or more than a third of the game,” May said. “I grew very close with Tre, I mean he did a lot for us. He played really well. So that’s the toughest part of this era, where it’s always in flux.
“This is just the new climate of college basketball where we’re always balancing what’s best for the individual, and sometimes it works out this way. But there’s no love lost with Tre, I’m gonna be rooting like heck for him at the U. (I’m) good friends with their staff so I’m excited to see where he ends up and follow his career.”
Compared to his prior season at Auburn, Donaldson nearly doubled his points per game with Michigan (6.7-11.3). May said both parties are better after Donaldon’s year with the Wolverines.
“… I think Tre really benefited from being here,” May said. “He improved as a player (and) he grew as a person. He’s much more equipped for the real world now than he was a year ago and we’re much better off because he came to join us a year ago as well.
“That’s ultimately what we look at the most, (whether) this partnership (was) healthy and successful for both of us.”
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