Danny Wolf has become a pretty sought-after figure for the 2025 NBA Draft. The seven-footer who showcased skills far beyond a typical big man had a great season for the Michigan Wolverines. Coach Dusty May brought Wolf in from Yale, and it was a great addition for the Wolverines. Now the Big Ten’s leading rebounder is off to the NBA Draft. It’s become very clear that Wolf has all the skills and size necessary to become a great NBA player. His importance for Michigan down the stretch during the 2024-25 season was obvious. As the big man prepares for his pro career, it’s time to take a closer look at Wolf as a prospect.
Danny Wolf 2025 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Wolf wasn’t heavily recruited coming out of high school, despite growing up in Big Ten country. The Glencose, Illinois, native had basketball in his blood, and at seven feet tall, he was certainly more than ready to play collegiately. Wolf was a three-star recruit coming out of high school. But had to settle for the Yale Bulldogs. Wolf’s freshman season with the Bulldogs only saw him play in 21 games and averaged just two points per game.
Wolf started 31 of Yale’s 32 games during the 2023-24 season and helped guide the Bulldogs on the offensive end of the floor. He finished with an average of 14.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. Also showcasing a strong passing ability for a big guy, with an average of 2.4 assists per game. He was named first-team All-Ivy for the season, and also helped the Bulldogs reach the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. While he was quietly starting to hear some buzz about his pro prospectus, Wolf made the jump to Michigan in the transfer portal to go play for Dusty May.
That move paid off big-time for Wolf, as he turned into arguably one of the most important players for Michigan. A team that won the Big Ten Tournament and reached the Sweet 16. Besides his efforts on both ends of the floor, Wolf finished as the Big Ten’s leading rebounder. An average of 9.7 rebounds per game. He bumped his scoring average up to 14 points per game, and his assist numbers were phenomenal for a player his size. Wolf finished with an average of 3.6 assists per game, which was second on the team. Wolf also earned All-Big Ten honors and was named an NCAA All-Region player. He also tied with Maryland’s Julian Reese and Derik Queen for the most double-doubles in the Big Ten, with each having 15 on the season.
Strengths
Wolf’s NBA Draft hopes sit pretty strong, especially for the tools he has at his size. The NBA these days is all about the big guys being able to handle the basketball, and Wolf can do that. Not to mention, he can score at all three levels. Wolf is a beast on the boards, and that’s only going to help him at the next level. He’s a player who has averaged 10 rebounds each of the last two seasons, for two different schools in two very different leagues.
Wolf isn’t afraid to defend the rim. He isn’t quite a defensive anchor, but that doesn’t stop him from defending other bigs without fouling. For a seven-footer to have great ball handling skills isn’t easy to do, but Wolf is exactly in the mold of the center position in the NBA right now. Like Nikola Jokic , he can score, rebound, defend, and pass the ball like a guard.
In his lone season with Michigan, Wolf proved he could get out and lead the Wolverines on the run. Additionally, his ability to space the floor will help whatever team he ends up at in the NBA Draft. Overall, Wolf is one of the most unique and versatile big men in this year’s draft.
Weaknesses
It’s hard to be a big guy and have speed, and that’s one of Danny’s weaknesses. He lacks lateral quickness, which in some cases caused him to get beaten on the defensive end of the floor. That isn’t his biggest issue, though. Despite being a strong passer, when put in difficult situations, he tends to commit a lot of turnovers. He averaged 3.2 turnovers at Michigan. Wolf made too many wide-open floor turnovers that turned into fast break runs the other way. That was what ended Michigan’s chances at the Big Ten regular season title, and ultimately cost them in the NCAA tournament.
Wolf also had trouble running into screens defensively, which got him off his intended man, and he would sometimes get lost on the perimeter. Combined with his lack of lateral quickness, defense is a key concern for Wolf.
NBA Comparison
Looking at who you can compare Wolf to, look no further than another former Wolverine, Moritz Wagner. This is a logical comparison due to their well-rounded skill sets as big men. Furthermore, Wolf, like Wagner, is competitive and will fight hard for rebounds. He’s tough and gritty, which is a major characteristic, like another player mold that Wolf fits. That would be Kelly Olynyk, who has been a vital piece on each of the teams he’s played for. Olynyk is a frontcourt player much like Wolf, who isn’t afraid to handle the ball. Not to mention, he can step out and knock down the three-point shot. If he can hit from outside at the rate Kelly does, Wolf is bound for success.
2025 NBA Draft Projection
Wolf projects to be a first-round pick.
Featured image: © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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