Michigan basketball is staying hot on the recruiting trail, with the Wolverines having picked up a prediction from ON3's Joe Tipton to land UCLA big man transfer, Aday Mara. Mara stands at 7'3, and is a commanding presence in the paint.
This is a piece that Michigan basketball badly needs, as the tallest players currently slated to be in Ann Arbor next season are Morez Johnson and Yaxel Lendeborg, who both stand at 6'9. Adding Mara would give the Wolverines the height they'll need against Big Ten teams.
Coming out of high school, Mara was ranked No.15 in the nation. This past season, he averaged 6.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game in only 13 minutes per game. Those are all increases from his freshman season, in which he averaged 3.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 9.5 minutes per game. If this trend continues, Mara can be a very valuable piece for the Wolverines.
Is Michigan basketball done in the portal if they land Aday Mara?
I'd expect Dusty May to look for a sharpshooter. If the Wolverines can land Mara, a true sharpshooter is the only thing missing from this roster. Freshman Winters Grady looks like he could be that guy, but as we saw when Caleb Houstan came to Ann Arbor, the farther back 3-point line can create some struggles.
As of right now, Will Tschetter may be Michigan's top shooter on the roster. If Michigan basketball can convince Nimari Burnett to return, that may alleviate some concerns, but I think that Dusty May wants someone who can shoot the three ball around the 40% clip. That's something that Michigan really missed this past season, and it's something that Dusty's offense needs to work at its best.
Stay tuned for any updates, as a commitment could come at any time.