After losing the entire frontcourt that was essential in helping Michigan with the National Championship, the Wolverines had to hit the transfer portal hard, but it was more about quality over quantity.
Former Michigan head coach Dusty May did a good job in the transfer portal after bringing a title back to Ann Arbor since 1989. May brought in three transfers that could help Michigan immediately, and after he left the Wolverines for the NBA, new head coach Mike Boynton was able to keep them in the building and even added a fourth transfer.
Michigan's 2026 transfer portal class consists of Cincinnati's Moustapha Thiam, Tennessee's J.P. Estrella, LSU's Jalen Reed, and Columbia's Kenny Noland. With the loss of five-star freshman Brandon McCoy to a torn ACL before the season began, these guys are needed to step up in a big way, and it looks like some of them are among the best transfers in the Big Ten.
The Top 10 Big Ten Transfers 🔥
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) October 19, 2026
Who do you think will be the most impactful transfer this season? 🤔
FULL BREAKDOWN ⬇️ https://t.co/pMgY8zZF5c pic.twitter.com/9TgstwzoqQ
The Field of 68 released its Top 10 transfer portal players in the Big Ten, and Michigan had not just one, but two guys show up. Thiam came in ranked No. 2 behind Illinois' lone transfer, Stefan Vaaks, and Estrella is ranked No. 6.
Michigan's transfer will be key to another title run
The best news Michigan got after their title win was that both Eliot Cadeau and Trey McKinney were returning to Ann Arbor for another season, which means the Wolverines didn't lose their entire starting lineup. Luckily, May was able to bring in solid replacements for the three guys who went to the NBA: Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Morez Johnson Jr., even though they can never really be replaced.
Thiam and Estrella will be big in helping replace the scoring and rebounding of Johnson and Mara, while Reed, when healthy, can help with the ball-handling that Lendeborg at times took over. Thiam so far has scored 11 points and 19 points in the first two exhibitions, with five rebounds and 10 rebounds.
Estrella has been solid as well, with 14 points against Eastern Michigan and nine points against Oregon State, shooting well from beyond the arc. Reed has played limited minutes, still working to return from the injury that kept him out of play last season with LSU.
Even with returning vets, this is still a fairly new team, and definitely a new head coach under the direction of Boynton. The transfers will be key in helping Michigan try to defend its title and prove that May wasn't the only reason they won.
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