It has gotten even more difficult over time for most true freshmen to make an impact in college basketball. For Michigan, however, two players in particular are already raising eyebrows this offseason and could be in line for playing time right away:
Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May has lived in the transfer portal through his first two offseasons in Ann Arbor, emphasizing established talent with a supplement of high school players.
In 2025, Michigan is bringing in three high school prospects that are hoping to carve out a role for themselves on a team filled with veteran talent. Luckily for the newcomers, the coaching staff and their teammates are already taking notice, and Michigan could have a couple of future stars on its hands.
May’s 2025 recruiting class consisted of five-star guard/forward Trey McKenney, four-star guard Winters Grady and three-star forward Ricky Liburd. The three recruits could not be more different from each other, but the class as a whole is making waves early on.
As May spoke to the media on Sunday, he mentioned the hard work the freshmen are putting in.
“(Trey) has been great and his work capacity might be as good as anyone that I’ve ever been around,” May said during Sunday’s availability. “He just loves to work.
“Winters Grady, he’s the same way, loves to be in the gym … I was in Switzerland, I checked in on both of them, and Trey was running hills with a sled and Winters finished his fourth workout of the day. So just those are the guys we love having. A program that loves ball, that loves to work … that work ethic and those traits will lead to success down the line.”
McKenney comes to Ann Arbor as the 21st ranked player in the country. The McDonald’s All-American made a name for himself in high school, averaging 23.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and three assists during his senior season.
Now, he is not only catching the attention of his own coaches, but he is catching the eye of other experts in the field. May and other coaches share practice film with each other to bounce ideas off each other and discuss each team’s players. One of the guys he sent film to was impressed with McKenney, who thought he was a fifth-year player.
“(The film observer) said, ‘(McKenney is) a freshman? … Man, I would have thought he’s a fifth-year grad transfer that you guys found from somewhere in the MAC,’” May recalled. “I mean, just the level of maturity, physicality, pace, poise he plays with.”
Other coaches aren’t the only ones that are taking notice.
During player availability on Sunday, McKenney’s teammates echoed May’s statements, as UAB transfer Yaxel Ledeborg said he doesn’t “consider him a freshman at all.” And Nimari Burnett said he has made a really good impression since he came to campus.
Luckily for May, it doesn’t stop there.
Unlike McKenney, Grady was a late bloomer in the recruiting process. He wasn’t getting much attention until he reached high school, which is when he quickly changed his mindset and wanted to be a great shooter.
Coming from the state of Florida, Grady is a catch-and-shoot specialist that purely “just wants to win.”
“I wanna do whatever it takes to win, and obviously in my freshman year, I think that I’m gonna be able to knock down shots and play defense at a high level,” Grady said. “So that’s really my goal right now.”
Much like McKenney, Grady has put in the work to be in the position he is in now.
“I really want to be great, and (during) COVID, all I was doing was (going to) the gym with my dad two or three times a day,” Grady said. “I love hooping. I just naturally kind of hover around in the gym even if I’m not doing anything. It’s kind of my escape.”
Ledeborg described Grady as “a human bailout,” explaining that when he doesn’t have anywhere to go with the basketball, he can trust Grady will be ready to take the necessary shot.
The looming question will be if McKenney and Grady can carve out enough minutes in a stacked lineup to be effective during their first year under May. However, May said no starting job is penciled in during the summer and every starting job and minute off the bench is up for grabs.
It is apparent the Wolverines are still lacking trustworthy shooters from deep, carrying over just Burnett from last season as the reliable deep threat, while also bringing in Eliot Cadeau (41 percent from three last season at North Carolina). Nonetheless, McKenney and Grady have shown they can shoot, and they will receive every opportunity to show it at Michigan.
“Trey McKinney, Winters Grady, those guys are good shooters and they haven’t done it before (at this level),” May said. “But we signed them because we believe that they will and they can.”