The Michigan Wolverines rallied past Wake Forest on Tuesday night, thanks in part to a stellar effort from 7-foot-3 big man Aday Mara.
Mara, who only had two double-doubles for UCLA last season, recorded his second straight for Michigan basketball in the 85-84 win over Wake. Mara scored 18 points, on 8-of-11 shooting, while also grabbing 13 rebounds, dishing out six assists, and notching five blocks.
Aday Mara of @umichbball is the first Division I or NBA player to have:
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) November 12, 2025
30+ points
25+ rebounds
10+ blocks
5+ assists
...over his first 2 games of a season since Tim Duncan did it for the Spurs in 2003-04. pic.twitter.com/sDPNbZ7qa2
Mara has been dominant on both ends of the floor, so much so that he's done something that hasn't been done in the NBA or college basketball since the 2003-04 season. The Michigan basketball big man became the first since Tim Duncan to have 30+ points, 25+ rebounds, 10+ blocks and 5+ assists during the first two games of a season.
Yaxel Lendeborg was supposed to be the prize of Michigan's transfer portal haul. Once he gets 100 percent, he will surely start to play like it. But Mara has looked like a lottery pick so far this season, and he cold be a steal for Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines.
Michigan football flips another 2026 commitment
Michigan football flipped a third commitment in the past week, as three-star linebacker Kaden Catchings flipped his commitment from South Florida to the Michigan Wolverines.
Catchings visited Michigan football this summer. Yet, he committed to Libery, before flipping to South Florida recently. Yet, the Wolverines started showing interest again. Catchings made his way to Ann Arbor for the Purdue game for a visit, and that was that.
It took a week for Catchings to announce his commitment to the Wolverines, but that came on Tuesday as the 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker joined Michigan's 2026 class, which ranks 10th overall, according to the 247 Sports team rankings.
Catchings projects as a weak-side linebacker for the Wolverines. He's a dynamic athlete and a take based on his senior film. This isn't someone that will probably play early. Special teams will probably be his quickest path to the field, although 2-3 years of development could turn him into a starter.
Michigan football creeps up College Football Playoff Rankings
In case you missed it, Michigan jumped up three spots in the College Football Playoff Rankings on Tuesday to No. 18. The Wolverines need to move up seven spots. However, there is plenty of opportunity to do that.
Michigan needs a few bounces to go its way, but if the Wolverines win out, they should be dancing.