Malick Kordel discusses journey from German handball player to Michigan Wolverine, current stage of his development

Michigan Wolverines basketball made a late, intriguing addition to the 2025-26 roster, with 7-foot-2, 275-pound freshman center Malick Kordel joining the fold out of Oberhausen, Germany.

In 22 games with the Fraport Skyliners Juniors in ProB (third division) in Germany, Kordel averaged 11.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, while shooting 71.7 percent from the field. That was his breakout season, putting him on the map and making college basketball a reality for him.

The truth is, Kordel is new to basketball, taking it up in 2020 after previously starring as a handball player since he was six years old.

“I went out and shot some hoops when COVID hit,” Kordel said on the ‘Defend The Block’ podcast with host Brian Boesch. “Handball is an indoor sport like basketball, but there aren’t a lot of courts. So, I had to find something where I could move a little bit. I got a little chubby over COVID, so I had to find something. I was at over 300 pounds.

“Everybody was telling me when I was playing outside that I have potential. Even though I started at 17, 18, I still have the potential to get to a higher league and to make it to the professionals.

“I liked the competition. It was way bigger competition than in handball. That’s what I always wanted, but in my region there weren’t really big handball clubs that I could join and have bigger competitions, so that was perfect for me.”

Kordel picked Michigan over Iowa, Xavier, Villanova and Butler. He visited for the Michigan State game in February and called it “amazing,” despite the loss.

“I wasn’t really doing much like two years ago, but I had a pretty good season [this past year],” Kordel noted. “People were coming up to me, saying, ‘Yeah, what about college?’ And I was like, ‘I never had the feel for how good college basketball is and if it makes sense for me.’

“… Those kind of things helped me with my decision, for sure. One big thing, too, is the educational side. You can get a degree while playing basketball. These are probably not comparable to the ones in Germany, where I was at. 

“I feel like the team is also different. Everybody’s in one age group, and it feels like a big family.

“I had great talks with the whole coaching staff, especially [Michigan head coach] Dusty [May]. My uncle came with me on the visits and did Zoom calls overseas. I think he has a pretty good feel for these kind of things, and we together [decided]. Obviously, my mom, my aunt, all of my other family members were also part of the decision.”

Since he’s new to basketball, Kordel still has a lot of fine tuning to do with his game.

“To be honest, I think the most difficult thing was — and is maybe a little bit even right now — the fouls,” the Michigan center said. “In handball, you grab a lot. It’s a little bit I wouldn’t say more physical but it’s a different kind of physicality in handball than it is in basketball. In my first years, I really had problems adjusting to that, but I feel like right now — even though I was in foul trouble a few times last season — I’m adjusting pretty well.

“Post moves — in handball, you don’t really do much of a pivot foot, or you don’t really dribble the ball in one spot. So, that’s also one thing I’m adjusting to right now that I didn’t learn when most of the guys were under 14, under 12. I need to adjust to that and probably learn things right now that other guys learned at 12, 10 [years old].”

On the flip side, Kordel said running the floor has been one of his better aspects as Michigan gears up for the 2025-26 season.

“One thing that really stood out to me is running in transition, to take off as soon as we get the ball and take off to the other side of the court,” he said. “I think that was one thing that’s even my strength right now — one of my biggest strengths.”

Kordel has another seven-footer to go up against in practice in junior Aday Mara, a UCLA transfer who also joined the team this summer.

“It’s different,” Kordel explained. “Obviously, I’ve never played against someone like Aday. He’s taller than me. He has good touch. It’s something I have to adjust to.

“On the other side, playing against guys like [sophomore forward] Morez [Johnson Jr.], that kind of physicality and athleticism compared to where I played at it was not there. But I feel like we’re doing a pretty good job adjusting to that, and I feel like we’ve got a great team this year.”

While Kordel shot a high percentage last season, his jump shot has a ways to go.

“It has a lot to do with confidence,” he said. “I feel like when my confidence is up, I can hit shots, and if I’m in my rhythm, I can hit shots. I wouldn’t say I’m a great shooter right now, but I’m working on it, and it’s getting better, for sure.”

Kordel laid out his goals for the several weeks before Michigan opens its season Nov. 3 against Oakland: “Adjust to college basketball. Give everything. Adjust to my teammates, be a good teammate, be a good player, giving 110 percent every practice, every game, and just be mentally ready.”