Positive transfer portal rumblings for Michigan basketball

It’s open season for the transfer portal and Michigan basketball needs to be a big-game hunter. The Wolverines have five players projected to be on scholarship next season. That includes Jace Howard, Terrance Williams, Will Tschetter, and Nimari Burnett.

None of those guys have confirmed their return. So at the moment, 2024 signee Durral Brooks is the only firm commitment Dusty May has for the 2024-25 Michigan basketball season. That will change soon and on Monday night, Vlad Goldin, the 7-foot-1 center from FAU entered the transfer portal.

Goldin would be a massive pickup for Michigan basketball

That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s coming to Michigan basketball. May still has to land his commitment, but Goldin would be a huge addition to the Wolverines. He averaged 15.7 points and 6.9 rebounds last season while shooting 67 percent from the field. Goldin doesn’t attempt 3-pointers, but in six games against high-major opponents last season, he averaged 15.7 points per game and made 33-of-44 shot attempts. That includes a 19-point effort against Northwestern, 23 against Illinois, and a 7-for-7 showing against Virginia Tech.

Once in those six games was Goldin held to single digits. If he’s the first domino to fall from FAU, that would be a big one. Yet, according to Davis Moseley, a Michigan basketball insider, Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin are “expected” to follow Goldin and enter the transfer portal on Tuesday.

Expecting Nelly Davis into the portal tomorrow, likely Alijah Martin as well.

— Davis Moseley (@DavisMoseley) April 2, 2024

The idea is that all three former All-Conference players would follow May to Michigan basketball.

Johnell Davis to Michigan basketball would be a game-changer

All three players coming to Ann Arbor would be huge, along with some of the other FAU players who entered the portal. May could have as many as eight spots. Maybe more. Davis should get plenty of attention in the portal though. He averaged 18.2 points per game last season and 6.3 rebounds, along with 2.9 assists. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 41 percent from 3-point range and 47 percent overall.

Davis is also a proven commodity. He scored 35 points against Arizona. That was in addition to 26 points against Texas A&M, 19 against Illinois, and 18 against Northwestern.

Voldin and Davis aren’t Ivy League transfers. There’s not any question about how they would translate. They have All-Big Ten potential. Martin, a 6-foot-2 guard, is in the same mold. He averaged 13.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists last season. The senior-to-be also shot 33.8 percent from 3-point range.

Martin also scored in double figures in five of six games against high majors. He also scored 25 against Texas A&M, showing he can light it up too.

If those guys enter the portal, Michigan basketball could be the benefactor. It’s going to be a test of NIL though. We have heard that Warde Manuel made promises that NIL wouldn’t be a hindrance and we’ll see if that’s true because if it is, the Wolverines feel like the favorite for Davis, Goldin, and Martin.

Things can change quickly though.

More transfer portal notes

Michigan basketball was announced as a finalist for Toldeo guard Dante Maddox Jr. He’s also considering Kansas, Illinois, TCU, Xavier, Oklahoma, Creighton, Louisville, and U-M.

NEWS: Toledo transfer Dante Maddox Jr. (@Dante21x) tells me he’s down to eight schools. Here are the programs he’s considering:

Louisville
Creighton
Oklahoma
Xavier
Illinois
Kansas
TCU
Michigan

He averaged 15.6PPG, 4.3RPG, 2.8APG and 1.4SPG this season. Was an All-MAC Second… pic.twitter.com/cP9Kcry8QU

— 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) April 1, 2024

Maddox is a dynamic scorer. I don’t have high hopes for Michigan in this recruitment but you never know. Another name to watch is William Kyle III. He’s a 6-foot-9 forward from South Dakota State and Michigan has made contact. He’s another guy who doesn’t shoot 3-pointers but was Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 13 points per game. He’s efficient down low and blocked 1.6 shots per game.

Nebraska is also a contender and hosted him for a visit on Monday. He’s from the Cornhusker State and has two years of eligibility left.

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