Michigan basketball's Youssef Khayat latest to hit the transfer portal
Michigan fired head coach Juwan Howard last Friday, and his team is on the way out with him. Sophomore wing Youssef Khayat is the latest to hit the transfer portal, joining point guard Dug McDaniel, shooting guard George Washington III, and big man Tarris Reed in recent days as players looking for a change of scenery.
Khayat played in only 8 of 33 games as a freshman Lebanese former pro and seemed to struggle with the speed of the game. He hoped for a bigger role this year but said on the Defend the Block podcast last May he was going to be all-in, regardless.
“It’s hard when you’re not playing,” Khayat said. “But even when I’m not playing, I’m not the type of guy to be down and not support the guys.”
Khayat, who left Lebanon at 16 with his mother to play in France, played in 17 game this year and averaged 1.4 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. He averaged 5.7 minutes per game but shot only 30.4 percent from the floor and 22.2 percent from long range.
With four players now heading to the transfer portal, Michigan has only four scholarship players that are slated to return for next season. However, graduate Nimari Burnett and senior Terrance Williams II — both of whom have a COVID year remaining — have been quiet on their status heading into the 2024-25 campaign. Both were honored on senior day March 10 against Nebraska.
Michigan, meanwhile is continuing its search for a new coach after Howard got fired after 5 years following an 8-24 record. There have been several names rumored, but this one could go a bit longer than hoped given some of the candidates are currently coaching their teams in the NCAA Tournament.
Watch TheWolverine.com for more basketball developments in the hours and days to come …
