The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546004
68 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2026 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE M ichigan men's basketball is one of the best NBA factories in college hoops, producing yet another epic draft class featuring three first-round selec- tions who won a national championship last season. For the first time in program history, Michigan had three lottery picks (top 14) in 2026 — forward Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9, Dallas Mavericks), forward Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11, Golden State Warriors) and center Aday Mara (No. 12, Oklahoma City Thunder). This was the first time since 1990 that the Maize and Blue had three first-round choices. That year, Rumeal Robinson (No. 10, Atlanta Hawks), Loy Vaught (No. 13, Los Angeles Clippers) and Terry Mills (No. 16, Milwaukee Bucks) were all off the board in the first round, while Sean Higgins was taken in the second. The Wolverines became the fifth pro- gram in NBA Draft history to produce at least three lottery selections in a single draft since the lottery expanded to 14 picks in 2004. Duke last accomplished the feat in 2025. Michigan joined North Carolina (2005), Florida (2007), Ken- tucky (2010, 2015, 2017) and Duke (2019, 2025) as the only programs to have three players or more selected among the top 14 picks in a single draft. North Caro- lina (2005) and Kentucky (2015) remain the only schools to produce four lottery picks in one draft, while Duke and Ken- tucky are the only programs to accom- plish the feat multiple times. Michigan has had 20 players, includ- ing 15 first-rounders, chosen in the last 14 NBA Drafts (since 2013), with this year's trio continuing that success one year after big man Danny Wolf was taken No. 27 overall by the Brooklyn Nets. Head coach Dusty May, who left Michigan after two seasons, ended his tenure with four NBA Draft picks, all in the first round. May is the new head man of the Dallas Mavericks and will coach Johnson in the NBA. The Wolverines' draft prowess in re- cent years has spanned three different head-coaching eras — John Beilein, Ju- wan Howard and May. Beilein sent 11 players to the draft during his tenure from 2007-19, while Howard saw six of his Wolverines chosen. Johnson was the first Michigan player ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Michigan Sets Program Record With Three Lottery Picks Michigan Wolverines basketball forward Morez Johnson Jr. shows off his tattoo at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine. PHOTO BY CLAYTON SAYFIE / THEWOLVERINE.COM