Led by head coach Dusty May, the Michigan Wolverines won their second national championship in program history, defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63. Along with being crowned the Big Ten regular-season champions, it was a great year for the Wolverines.
However, May and his staff must now navigate the offseason, which includes the transfer portal. It officially opened on Tuesday and runs through April 21. So far, they have already lost one player in the form of freshman guard Winters Grady.
Last offseason, the Wolverines were among the most active teams in the portal. They brought in a total of four players, with the group ranking fourth in the nation.
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Fresh off a national championship, Ann Arbor has emerged as an intriguing destination for some of the top players available. On3's Pete Nakos reports that Michigan is viewed as an early favorite to land former Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Juke Harris.
"One of the most highly sought-after guards in the transfer portal, Juke Harris is receiving interest across the board," Nakos wrote. "But multiple sources believe that Michigan is the team to beat. The Wolverines are working to finalize a visit as early as this weekend. Other schools fighting to get in the mix include NC State, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas Tech, among others."
Coming out of high school in the 2024 cycle, Harris was a four-star recruit and the No. 95 player in the nation. He chose Wake Forest over the Virginia Tech Hokies, Tennessee Volunteers, Houston Cougars and Kansas Jayhawks.
This past season, he broke out with the Demon Deacons. The sophomore started 35 games, averaging 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists. All were career-highs, while also shooting 44.4% from the field and 33.2% from the three-point line.
While the Wolverines are pushing hard for his commitment, it's no surprise that Harris is garnering so much attention. On3 rankings currently place him as the No. 1 player available in the transfer portal.
With two more years of eligibility, he continues to weigh his options. Fresh off a national championship, Michigan is looking to repeat its success in the portal, with Harris as a top priority.
