The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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58 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2025 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY CHRIS BALAS J ust when you think Michigan basketball coach Dusty May has played his last card, he pulls out an- other ace. Shortly after UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg — the nation's top transfer prospect per Rivals — an- nounced in June he'd be attending U-M next year, choosing the Wol- verines over the NBA Draft, May signed German 7-footer Malick Kordel over offers from Iowa, Xavier, Villanova, and others. Kordel, 21, only started play- ing basketball about four years ago — handball was his sport since sixth grade — but he's picked it up quickly. He visited for Michigan's home game with Michigan State in February and has been interested since, with May traveling to Ger- many this spring to close the deal. Though Kordel had yet to make it to campus as of July 13, May shared the good news with the media fol- lowing a Sunday practice. "He's the only one not with the team yet, but very soon … very, very soon," he said, adding he would continue to go after the bigger big men. "We're recruiting this niche. When you play a certain style, players that thrive in that style, usually they re- cruit you a little bit, and this started way back when our first year at FAU. "We were trying to figure out a blue- print for us to be successful there. We recruited all European international bigs and fast American playmaking guards and thought, 'This is the best way for us to acquire talent that we can win with and then be a little bit different.'" They played through them, he re- called, because they were good passers and screeners and "great teammates," he added. "That led us to being able to recruit the higher-level talent like [former U-M center] Vlad [Goldin]," he said. "Those guys back from Day 1 are the reason we're able to attract bigs now. We've evolved into a system that they are in- volved in the offense. They're involved in getting other bigs away from the rim and things like that. "We're clicking with five guys in uni- son playing wonderful music, and we're able to recruit anyone. But I do think if you're a big guy that likes to pass and be involved in the offense, then they see us play and they're attracted to it." Such was the case for Kordel, a late bloomer with great hands and feet. He averaged 11.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 23.7 minutes per game while shooting 71.7 percent from the floor for the Fraport Skyliners' junior squad in the German Pro B League this season, showing very good athleticism for his size. Though he does most of his damage close to the rim, shooting a reported 78.3 percent within two feet, he's try- ing to expand his game. He was one of the most frequent dunkers and rim protectors in the league, how- ever, proving his value now is in the paint. It took some doing to convince him to pick up the game, he re- called. "Everybody said, 'Start playing basketball. You're huge. You have the perfect tools,'" Kordel said on the "Jump!" podcast last year. "'You look like a basketball player. Just try it.' "For me, I didn't want to let my friends down. I built up a big circle of friends." One that expanded to the basket- ball court in 2020 during the COVID year. He was playing handball when the pandemic shut down the gyms, so he started playing outdoors with the German U19 NBBL team. He has since continued to rise as a prospect, and while he might not be an immediate contributor — that's up to him and his development — May and his staff love his potential. Playing in Germany's third-best tier last year, Kordel ranked 85th in the league in scoring, 13th in rebounds and third in blocks per game. He didn't at- tempt a three-pointer — shooting is an area that still needs work (he made only 51.3 percent of his free throws) — but he led the 341-player league in shooting percentage. Kordick showed significant improve- ment from his 2023-24 season with the Iserlohn Kangaroos, also of the Pro B league. He averaged only 2.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game in 7.3 minutes per contest in his first recorded season. May and Co. hope he continues on that trajectory to become a contribu- tor at some point. If he does, the U-M head man may have found another in a long line of outstanding big men he's coached over the years. ❑ German Center Malick Kordel Adds To Dusty May's 2025 Haul Last season, Kordel posted 11.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 23.7 minutes per game while shooting 71.7 percent from the floor for the Fraport Skyliners' junior squad in the German Pro B League. PHOTO COURTESY EUROBASKET ❱ Michigan basketball head coach Dusty May "We're recruiting this niche. When you play a certain style, players that thrive in that style, usually they recruit you a little bit, and this started way back when our first year at FAU."