2025 Michigan signee Oscar Goodman is on campus and set to start practicing with @umichbball. Here is a guide to everything you need to know about the New Zealand forward, what all he can do with the team as of now, and much more:
As the winter semester begins at the University of Michigan, the men’s basketball team has added another player to the roster who can practice with the team, but not play in games — forward Oscar Goodman.
Goodman committed to Michigan in October and is part of Michigan’s three-player 2025 class . He is in Ann Arbor as we speak for the winter semester after graduating high school in New Zealand back in November. Contrary to reports earlier this week, Goodman is not reclassifying due to New Zealand’s school years, according to a team spokesperson.
That same spokesperson said Goodman will be listed as a freshman on the roster. He’s essentially redshirting this semester — he’s allowed to practice with the team and participate in team activities, but he’s not allowed to play in games. Next season, Goodman will be listed on the roster as a redshirt freshman.
This is ultimately positive news for Goodman and the Wolverines. Much like the early enrollees who practiced with the football team ahead of the ReliaQuest Bowl, Goodman will get key practice reps and experience within Dusty May’s offense while taking classes.
For the Wolverines, there’s short-term and long-term benefits to this. The addition of Goodman immediately gives the Wolverines another body in practice, which can help if the injury bug hits, and provide Michigan with pivotal scout team looks as Big Ten. But most importantly, the Wolverines get to evaluate Goodman and see what they have in him before he is even able to participate in games. Goodman getting reps to develop chemistry with teammates and time to bond with the guys is also a huge plus.
What Goodman brings to Ann Arbor
Goodman is listed at 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds on 247Sports and is ranked 75th in his class on the composite . He has represented his home country in several FIBA contests , including the 2022 U15 Oceania Championship, the U16 2023 Asia Championship, and the U17 2024 U17 FIBA basketball World Cup. In seven games in the World Cup, he averaged 17 points, 6.3 rebounds and three assists per game, helping his country get fourth-place and earning honors on the tournament’s All-Star Five team. He’s also played in several showcases with NBA Global Academy.
“Oscar arrives in Ann Arbor as an accomplished international player and prospect, who was just named to the New Zealand senior national team,” May said in a news release for signing day. “He comes from a tight-knit family that values everything that we want our program to be about. His training at the NBA Academy, as well as his eagerness and ability to compete, will allow him to affect our program positively from day one.”
The red-headed forward has a smooth jump shot and runs the floor well on the fast break. Goodman also has hops, dunking on a Turkish teen 30 seconds into the first clip below. He moves without the ball well as a cutter and is savvy off screens, often popping out for a three-pointer after setting a screen. He has great anticipation on defense, swiping away lazy passes for easy buckets. He’s also a good facilitator who can make plays for his teammates.
Maybe it’s because of the red hair, but his shooting stroke and cutting prowess reminds me of Chase Budinger, who played in the NBA for seven seasons and competed for Team USA in volleyball in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
What Goodman’s role could be next season
Obviously there are many variables to account for when projecting Goodman’s role next season. Michigan will be without center Vlad Goldin and guards Nimari Burnett and Rubin Jones next season, as this is the final year of eligibility for them. Forward Danny Wolf and guards Tre Donaldson and Roddy Gayle Jr. could return for their senior year, but all three could leave for the NBA Draft , especially Wolf, whose draft stock in particular has been rapidly rising.
Will Tschetter feels like a lock to come back for his redshirt senior season after being with the Wolverines across different coaching regimes. Barring a surprise transfer, I would think that forward Sam Walters and guards L.J. Cason, Justin Pippen and Durral Brooks will be back with larger roles.
It’s too early for a minutes projection for next season, but depending on how many players return, I would expect Goodman to have a similar role to Walters this season, coming off the bench and providing an offensive boost. Goodman doesn’t appear to be as good of a shooter as Walters, but he may be more of a playmaker and could be a key part of Michigan’s bench unit next season.
Ultimately, Goodman being on campus now helps him immensely. Perhaps this valuable time will help him earn a bigger role than expected next season.