As Michigan coach Dusty May landed the crown jewel of his incoming transfer class in graduate center Vlad Goldin on April 29, the Wolverines secured their first, and only, player from May’s illustrious Final Four trip two seasons ago.
Perhaps the most impactful Owl on the floor during May’s two March Madness runs, Vlad’s 25 minutes played per game during the 2023-2024 season — one of the highest for any player under May in his coaching career — illustrated the immense importance of Goldin to May’s program. Notching an average of 15.7 points on 67% shooting this past year, it’s hard to overstate Goldin’s impact as the big-man engine that powered Florida Atlantic.
It’s an effect that goes both ways, though. For as much as May enjoys the Russia-native’s dominant paint presence, Goldin appreciates May in his unique way.
“It’s hard to say how impactful he was my entire career, but he gave me family,” Goldin said Tuesday on the Defend the Block Podcast . “I haven’t seen my family for like five years, but he is probably one of the people who gave me family, who let me feel like I’m home. And it’s unbelievable. It means a lot to me.”
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