Michigan basketball transfer additions made great strides this summer

Michigan head basketball coach Dusty May brought in another recruiting class of freshmen and transfers to complement the returnees, and it’s meshing extremely well. Assistant coach Kyle Church told U-M hoops play-by-play man Brian Boesch on the Defend the Block podcast recently that the new additions have been as advertised, leading to what should be an outstanding team.

“I’ve told almost everybody I’ve talked to, we have a really, really talented team and a significantly talented, deep, athletic, tall, physical team,” Church said. “Before they become a good team, which we’re not there yet … but I think we could get there, and we could become a great team. We have the talent prerequisite. But you need to becomea really good team. 

“I’ve really enjoyed working with these guys this summer. They’ve brought it every single day. We’ve had a bunch of moving parts …but it’s been fun working with them every single day. I think we have a chance to be really, really special. We certainly have a long way to go, but we’ve given ourselves a chance.”

His breakdown of each of the Michigan incoming transfers:

Yaxel Lendeborg, Grad PF: “He is a really special talent. His size and length and strength and skill level … he just has a combination of all these things you want in a basketball player. He’s one of those guys you design on a 2K video game is what Yaxel ends up looking like. Then you put all that together. 

“Having coached him, the passing ability is what really stands out.”

Aday Mara, Jr. C: “Aday is a special player, just a really unique talent. For somebody his size to have his skill level is almost unheard of at seven-foot-three, and to be able to move like he does and pass like he does. His assist-to-turnover ratio for a big guy is pretty special, both in workouts since he’s been here [at Michigan] and what he did last year at UCLA.

“His skill level, his ability to finish around the rim, and his ability to protect the rim defensively will be a real weapon for us.”

Morez Johnson Jr., So. PF.: “He’s the definition of a beast. That’s just what he is. He’s physical, he’s tough … he’s just blue collar through and through. He makes every hustle play, every physical play, goes after every rebound. His basketball life depends on it. 

“He’s just a guy you want on your team … rugged, just whatever the team needs, he does. Whatever position he’s asked to play, he’s just a consummate team player and just brings a lot of toughness and physicality to the roster. 

“You add on the improved skill level, the improved jump shot, and I think he’s going to be one of the best big guys in the league … I think you’re going to see an expanded game and hopefully a more improved game. I think he’s got a huge year [ahead at Michigan].”

Elliot Cadeau, Jr. PG: “Elliot’s passing ability and his speed, I think, are the first two things that really are going to pop for our fans. His ability to get where he wants to go with his speed is pretty tremendous. Then, once he gets there, his vision, his ability to spray the ball over the court, to throw lobs, to find shooters is really, really special. Those are his gifts as a basketball player and why he was considered one of the top point guards in the country coming out of high school and one of the top point guards in the portal this go around. 

“I’ve been really impressed with his shot (too). A lot has been made of his jump shot, but he’s shot the ball, particularly on catch-and-shoot threes, very well this summer.”