The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546004
70 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2026 ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS gan (2025-26), helping the Wolverines win the national championship before forgoing his final season of eligibility. In 2025-26, Mara registered 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.4 assists in 24.5 minutes per game. A third-team All-Big Ten selection, Mara was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year. He played for UCLA in his first two years of college basketball (2023-25). Mara is the highest-drafted player from Spain since guard Ricky Rubio went to the Minnesota Timberwolves No. 5 overall in 2009. MICHIGAN CONTINUES NHL DRAFT STREAK For the 31st straight year, Michigan has had at least one NHL Draft pick, bringing its all-time total to 202. Incoming freshman forward J.P. Hurl- bert was taken by the Detroit Red Wings with the No. 23 overall choice in the first round. Named the 2026 Western Hockey League Rookie of the Year, Hurlbert has been committed to Michigan since 2024. He spent the last season with the Kam- loops Blazers, serving as alternate cap- tain. A native of Allen, Texas, Hurlbert finished fourth in the WHL in scoring with 97 points (42 goals, 55 assists) in 97 games — leading all rookies in the Cana- dian Hockey League. Sophomore forward Adam Valentini was chosen by the Utah Mammoth No. 96 overall in the third round, coming off a 27-point (11 goals, 16 assists) fresh- man campaign. He notched points in more than half of his games played last season, highlighted by a 3-point outing with a goal and a pair of assists against Penn State in November. Following the Frozen Four, the To- ronto native was named an alternate captain for Hockey Canada at the 2026 U18 World Championship. He was also an alternate captain at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where the team won bronze, and was the leading scorer at the 2024 World U17 Hockey Challenge, where Canada won gold. ❏ MICHIGAN ATHLETES DRAFTED TO PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES IN 2025-26 U-M Athlete League Round Overall Pick Team Morez Johnson Jr. NBA 1 9 Dallas Mavericks Yaxel Lendeborg NBA 1 11 Golden State Warriors Aday Mara NBA 1 12 Oklahoma City Thunder Nolan Miller MLS 1 9 Orlando City SC J.P. Hurlbert NHL 1 23 Detroit Red Wings Adam Valentini NHL 3 96 Utah Mammoth Derrick Moore NFL 2 44 Detroit Lions Marlin Klein NFL 2 59 Houston Texans Jaishawn Barham NFL 3 92 Dallas Cowboys Jimmy Rolder NFL 4 118 Detroit Lions Max Bredeson NFL 5 159 Minnesota Vikings Rayshaun Benny NFL 7 250 Baltimore Ravens Pace Billings PLL 3 19 Denver Outlaws Colby Turner MLB 12 347 Minnesota Twins Noah Miller MLB 19 571 Houston Astros — Clayton Sayfie University of Michigan ice hockey incoming freshman J.P. Hurlbert was selected by the Detroit Red Wings with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26. PHOTO BY MARK PETERSON