The Michigan Wolverines have been active in the transfer portal following their national championship win. So far, Dusty May and his staff have landed three commitments, including center Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati Bearcats), forward Jalen Reed (LSU Tigers) and forward J.P. Estrella (Tennessee Volunteers).
The group ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 11th in the nation, giving the Wolverines a handful of talented players who can make an immediate impact next season. However, none of the players Michigan had landed were as coveted as guard Juke Harris.
Last season for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, he started 35 games, averaging 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists, all three of which marked career highs. He also shot 44.4% from the field and 33.2% from beyond the three-point line.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
It was a breakout season that led the guard to earn multiple honors. He was named the ACC Most Improved Player and earned All-ACC second team honors. On3 listed him as the No. 1 player to hit the transfer portal this offseason, and the Wolverines had been right in the mix.
Pete Nakos reported that Harris had narrowed his list down to three schools, choosing between Michigan, Tennessee and the North Carolina Tar Heels. On Friday, though, Josh Henschke of the Maize & Blue Review revealed that Michigan is no longer in the running for Harris.
It's a disappointing update for the Wolverines, but they weren't just battling Tennessee and North Carolina for the guard. Harris has also declared for the 2026 NBA Draft and has until May 27 to withdraw and maintain eligibility.
With the Wolverines no longer an option, many believe Harris will return to college. In fact, there have been three separate expert predictions from Rivals for the award-winning guard to transfer to the Volunteers.
