Michigan basketball signee Oscar Goodman has ‘winning DNA’

Michigan men’s basketball has three recruits set to join the team after this season: five-star guard Trey McKenney, four-star forward Winters Grady and four-star forward Oscar Goodman. Hailing from New Zealand, Goodman attended the NBA Global Academy in Auckland for his prep career. He committed to Michigan in October and has been practicing with the team since January.

Dusty May gives early impression of Oscar Goodman in practice

Goodman stands at 6-foot-7, 230 pounds, and is ranked as the No. 101 overall recruit (per 247Sports). He essentially redshirted this season and will be listed as a freshman next year. Michigan head coach Dusty May said Goodman will help raise the team’s floor.

“I think he’s got a real winning DNA,” May said Monday. “I think he’s someone that really cares about his teammates. He’s played with physicality in practice. It’s an adjustment, and that’s why we wanted to bring him over, so this adjustment would happen now.

“He’s going to be a guy that impacts winning. He’s done it his entire career. He addresses some of our deficiencies, which is the physicality (and) the ability to get to basketballs. He’s quick off the floor off two feet, he likes contact, and we think he’ll be someone that the Michigan fans are going to enjoy watching.”

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Despite having two seven-footers in the starting lineup, Michigan has struggled mightily in the rebounding department this season. On Sunday, Illinois grabbed 19 offensive boards and outrebounded the Wolverines 43-32. Additionally, they haven’t been able to get shots to drop at the rate they were a few months ago. 

Michigan hasn’t shot over 35 percent from behind the arc since Jan. 27. At one point this season, the Wolverines were the most efficient team in the country. May said the staff is working to develop Goodman offensively. 

“He’s been a power forward up to this point,” May said. “He’s a really good driver, he’s an aggressive finisher around the basket – in our finishing drills he’s one of our better finishers now.

“He has a reliable three-point shot when he has time and his feet are set, so now we’re trying to expand his game where he’s a better shooter which will set up his quick first step drive. Most importantly, he’s awesome to coach, and he’s got the personality traits that you want from a really talented basketball player.”

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