The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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56 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JUNE/JULY 2025 ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS lion last season and is a free agent this offseason. His future with the franchise is in doubt, especially because shooting guard Jaden Ivey, a former Purdue star who missed the final 55 games of the season with a leg injury, is expected to be healthy next year. "Because Hardaway is 33 years old, he won't command a contract as high as his last one, meaning he might be a reasonably priced shooter Detroit could prioritize should [guard Malik] Beasley sign with a different team (or maybe they'll keep both)," Christian Romo of The Detroit Free Press wrote May 4. Detroit general manager Trajan Lang- don was coy about whether or not his franchise will retain veteran free agents like Hardaway and Beasley. "I think they'd all be great for us com- ing back here in terms of what they did for us and how they fit with the ros- ter that we have. I can't get into which ones, because it takes both sides to come together on the deal, and I don't know what that is right now." Hardaway has played 11 NBA seasons, appearing in 813 regular-season games. For his career, he's averaging 13.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Hardaway was one of six former Michigan players on three NBA play- off teams, but none advanced past the first round. Forward Franz Wagner per- formed at the highest level among the Maize and Blue representatives, reg- istering 25.8 points, 5.6 assists and 4.8 boards per contest in the playoffs with his Orlando Magic falling to the Boston Celtics in five games. FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NBA PLAYOFFS Through May 11 • Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), G, Detroit Pistons: Appeared in and started six games of a first-round series loss to the New York Knicks … Put up 12 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest in the playoffs, while shooting 33.8 percent over- all and 30.8 percent from three-point distance … Went off for a series-high 24 points in Game 4, a 118-116 setback. • Caleb Houstan (2021-22), G, Orlando Magic: Lost in five games to the Boston Celtics … Played in all five, averaging 1.2 points in 9.4 minutes … Shot 2-of-10 from three-point range and collected 4 rebounds. • Jett Howard (2022-23), G, Orlando Magic: Saw time in just one contest during the postseason, competing for 4 minutes during a 120-89 loss in Game 5 to end the series … Drained both of his three-point attempts in the defeat. • Duncan Robinson (2014-18), F, Miami Heat: The Heat were swept by the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, losing three of four games by double digits … Robinson appeared in all four tilts, averaging 4.3 points and 1 rebound in 14.8 minutes an outing … Shot 35.7 percent overall and 33.3 percent on three-pointers … His series was highlighted by an 8-point performance in Game 1 … Made 2 of his 4 threes in that contest. • Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic: Registered 25.8 points, 5.6 assists and 4.8 re- bounds while starting all five postseason games, but the Magic fell to the Celtics … Connected on 44.3 percent of his field goal attempts, including 18.9 percent of his threes, and 76.9 percent of his 5.2 free throws per clash … Wagner went off for a team-high 32 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals in Game 3, a 95-93 win. • Moritz Wagner (2015-18), C, Orlando Magic: Missed most of the regular season and the playoffs with a torn ACL. FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE MLB Through May 11 • Jake Cronenworth (Played at U-M from 2013- 15), IF, San Diego Padres: The second baseman has appeared in 15 games and logged 45 at-bats … Has a .267 batting average and .935 OPS with 3 home runs, 2 doubles, 9 RBI and 11 walks … Injured April 8 and returned from the 10-day IL May 9, having sustained a fractured right rib from being hit by a pitch … "Excited to be back and more or less ready to pick up right from where I left off," Cronenworth said. • Tommy Henry (2017-19), LHP, Arizona Dia- mondbacks: Made a major league appearance for Arizona May 5 against the New York Mets, throwing 2.2 innings and giving up 1 hit and no earned runs in a 5-4 loss … One day later was optioned back down to the club's AAA affiliate, the Reno Aces. FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NHL PLAYOFFS: FIVE STARS OF THE MONTH Through May 11 • Kyle Connor (2015-16), LW, Winnipeg Jets: Totaled career postseason bests in goals (5) and assists (8) through 10 contests, helping the Jets advance past the St. Louis Blues in the first round … The Jets were down 2-1 to the Dallas Stars in Round 2 … His 13 points lead his team by 5 in the postseason. • Zach Hyman (2011-15), LW, Edmonton Oilers: His game-winning goal in a 3-2 Game 1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights made it a Stanley Cup Playoffs-record five consecutive comeback wins for the Oilers … Recorded 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) this postseason in nine outings. • Kent Johnson (2020-22), C, Columbus Blue Jackets: Scored 2 goals and added 1 assist for Team Canada in a 7-1 victory over Latvia May 11 in the Ice Hockey World Championship (IIHF) … Collected 2 goals and 2 assists through a pair of contests so far. • Frank Nazar (2022-24), C, Chicago Black- hawks: Tied atop Team USA with 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) through a pair of contests in the IIHF … Posted 2 goals and an assist in a 6-0 win over Hungary May 11. • Max Pacioretty (2007-08), LW, Toronto Maple Leafs: After tallying only 5 goals and 8 assists in 37 regular-season games, Pacioretty has been nearly a point-a-game player for the Maple Leafs this postseason, with 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in eight clashes … The playoffs have been a resur- gent moment for Pacioretty, who suffered Achil- les injuries in 2022 and 2023 … The 36-year-old scored the game-winning, series-clinching goal in a 4-2 triumph over the Ottawa Senators in the first round May 11 … That marked his fourth career series-clinching goal. ❏ Jason Botterill • NHL The former Michigan hockey player (1993-97) was named the new general man- ager of the Seattle Kraken. He was the assistant GM for the franchise from 2021-25, after serving as GM of the Buffalo Sabres from 2017-20. The No. 20 overall pick in the 1994 NHL Draft, Botterill was a member of the Wolverines' 1996 national championship-winning team. Quinten Johnson • NFL The former Michigan defensive back (2019-24) went undrafted in 2025 but earned a rookie minicamp tryout with the Atlanta Falcons. Aamir Hall • NFL A former Michigan cornerback (2024), Hall participated in rookie minicamp with the Detroit Lions after going unselected in the 2025 draft. — Clayton Sayfie HEADLINERS Former Michigan athletes in the news this month