Michigan basketball already making an NIL push under Dusty May

NIL was viewed as a potential negative for the Michigan basketball head-coaching search. It was apparent that things needed to change, especially after Hunter Dickinson left to Kansas for a big payday.

It was reported that it was a topic of conversation during the interview between Dusty May, the new Michigan basketball head coach, and AD Warde Manuel. There have been reports that Michigan has committed to more investments in NIL. So far, it looks like those aren’t empty words.

A New NIL campaign for Michigan basketball

The Champions Circle, an NIL collective supporting the Wolverines, has launched an initiative to support the new Michigan basketball head coach, “March with May.”

It's time to give a Wolverine welcome to our new @umichbball Head Coach – Dusty May.

We are launching the “March with May” NIL campaign to show @CoachDustyMay and the Men’s Basketball program that we’ve got their back.

Let’s all March with May today!https://t.co/ZPphFV9Mpj pic.twitter.com/7x7Y4ue5cE

— Champions Circle (@ChampCircleUofM) March 25, 2024

The Champions Circle has done a great job raising funds in the past like the one-more-year fund. There was also a big fundraiser around the College Football Playoff to stave off the efforts of rivals to steal away Michigan players.

As important as NIL is in football, it might be even more important in basketball. There aren’t as many basketball players on a roster for one and losing one, like Hunter Dickinson, has a huge impact.

The Wolverines will probably never be as aggressive in using it as an enticement as other programs. But that’s fine. What they do need to do is have the resources available to get top talent and retain it. The retention part is critical and this is a huge step in the right direction. May is also going to meet with the collectives to form an NIL plan going forward.

"He's going to be so much more involved"

Collectives have already engaged with Dusty May and a meeting has already been planned for the future of NIL for the basketball program.

Details here: https://t.co/u0kquPfziK

— Josh Henschke (@JoshHenschke) March 25, 2024

May is going to invest heavily in high school recruiting. At least if he follows the same path that he did at FAU. Like John Beilein, May seems to have an eye for talent. He’s recruited and developed numerous all-conference players at FAU, including three who still have a year of eligibility. So he can land players and as long as he can keep them, Michigan basketball should be among college basketball’s best in no time.

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