Dusty May shares how Michigan approached roster building in transfer portal

Michigan was one of many programs who had to start from scratch this offseason due to a coaching change. However, with the transfer portal available to the Wolverines, Dusty May has put together a collection of talent already in just over a month.

May spoke about the maize & blue’s use of the portal so far during a press conference last week. He said that their goal was to piece together a team for his debut season in Ann Arbor that had the right blend of young and old.

“We wanted to mix, we wanted to add some young guys with some old guys,” said May. “But, most importantly, get guys that fit culturally, had a baseline of talent.”

That process has been one that May described as pleasant, even if it can be hectic throughout the recruitments. That’s because he and his coaches have been able to build something new that will fit them and fit well with Michigan.

“It has been enjoyable to see the group come together. To try to fit these pieces and parts together, use our imagination based on past experience,” May said. “Just find the guys that we felt like were right for this university and right for us.”

May and the Wolverines brought in the No. 6 class in the portal per On3’s 2024 Team Transfer Portal Rankings. Six commitments make up that group with all six being former four-star talents. Each of them announced their choice over the course of 10 days, including five commits over four days.

FAU’s Vladislav Goldin, who followed May from Boca Raton, is the most recent and highest-rated addition. He sits at No. 15 overall and as the No. 4 C per On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players. Ohio State’s Roddy Gayle Jr. (No. 75, No. 13 SG) and Yale’s Danny Wolf (No. 77, No. 10 C) also made the Top-100. Alabama’s Sam Walters (No. 144, No. 35 PF) and Auburn’s Tre Donaldson (No. 167, No. 39 PG) each cracked the Top-200. North Texas’ Rubin Jones (No. 242, No. 48 SG) then rounded out the group in the Top-250.

Those cam after Michigan had lost five to the portal from last season’s roster. Three ended up at major programs in Tarris Reed (UConn), Dug McDaniel (Kansas State), and Terrance Williams (USC). George Washington III (Richmond) and Youssef Khayat (Bowling Green) have also each committed elsewhere.

It has taken plenty of effort to field a roster for next season at Michigan. Now that much of that has been completed, though, May can begin to focus on the coaching aspect of his new job with his new players.

“Because of the staff’s diligence, their hard work, the relationships that have been built over time? We were able to get guys that, like I said, we’re extremely excited to grow with,” said May.