Across 37 games this past season, six different players led Michigan Basketball in scoring at least once. Will that number increase in 2025-26? Let’s discuss the options:
The best teams in college basketball can beat you in more ways than one offensively. While it’s important to have a reliable leading scorer, having several guys capable of leading your team in scoring raises your team’s ceiling significantly.
Across 37 games last season, six players led Michigan in scoring at least once. Below are those players, including how many games they led the team in scoring and their respective season-high.
- C Vlad Goldin (16 games, 36 points against UCLA)
- F Danny Wolf (14, 21 points against USC)
- G Nimari Burnett (3, 18 points against Miami (OH))
- G Tre Donaldson (2, 21 points against Penn State)
- F Will Tschetter (1, 17 points against Oregon)
- G/F Roddy Gayle Jr. (1, 12 points against Nebraska)
Three of those players — Goldin, Wolf, Donaldson — are no longer at Michigan, so the Wolverines have quite a bit of scoring to replace.
When it comes to leading scorers in each game, there are plenty of new options, with eight players joining the roster from either the transfer portal or from the 2025 recruiting class.
- North Carolina G Elliot Cadeau
- UAB F Yaxel Lendeborg
- Illinois F/C Morez Johnson
- UCLA C Aday Mara
- G L.J. Cason
- G Roddy Gayle Jr.
- G Nimari Burnett
- F/C Will Tschetter
- G Trey McKenney
- G Winters Grady
- F Oscar Goodman
- F Patrick Liburd
- C Malick Kordel
A lot can happen between now and November, but for now, let’s project which players we think will lead Michigan in scoring in each game next season. For the sake of continuity, we’re going to use 37 games as a placeholder total, even though the variance of tournament play could alter the number of games played.
Yaxel Lendeborg
Lendeborg is the obvious candidate. He’s a versatile scorer who was considered by many to be the best player to enter the transfer portal, he’s in a great situation to develop as a scorer, and he’ll likely have the ball in his hands a lot.
He averaged 17.7 points last season at UAB, so anything less than that at Michigan would be a disappointment once he gets used to Big Ten play. I’d expect at least a dozen 20-point games for him.
If Michigan intends to use Lendeborg like it used Wolf last season — and all signs point to that being the case — Lendeborg is the heavy favorite to lead Michigan in per-game scoring the most next season.
My educated guess: 20 games where Lendeborg leads Michigan in scoring, including a high of 32 points
Nimari Burnett
With two seasons in Ann Arbor under his belt, Burnett is comfortable as a scorer and has thrived in his role as a finisher of offensive sets. As my colleguage Kyle Yost broke down in April, Burnett’s return is just as impactful as the four transfers.
Burnett is one of the best three-point shooters on the roster, and he gets red-hot once he starts making shots. I do think he leads the team in scoring more often than he did last year.
My educated guess: Five games, including a high of 23 points
L.J. Cason
While Cason’s playing time varied mid-way through the season, he settled in towards the end of conference play and in tournament play, providing a key scoring punch more than a few times.
We heard about Cason’s shot creation and scoring prowess from Dusty May and Cason’s teammates all season long. With an increased role, I think the best is yet to come for him.
My educated guess: Five games, including a high of 19 points
Morez Johnson Jr.
With all the shot creators Michigan has on this roster, Johnson is expected to be one of the main beneficiaries. He had double-digit points eight times for the Fighting Illini last season, including a season-high 20 points against Penn State. I expect him to match that total at least once this season.
My educated guess: Four games, including a high of 20 points
Trey McKenney
McKenney is the first five-star to commit to Michigan under May, and his three-level scoring ability is astonishing for a young player like him. The reigning Michigan Mr. Basketball will likely come off the bench, and playing time may vary. But McKenney is talented enough to pop off and lead Michigan in scoring a couple times, especially in non-conference play.
My educated guess: Two games, including a high of 17 points
Will Tschetter
Tschetter knows Michigan’s system like the back of his hand , is one of Michigan’s most efficient shooters, and has led Michigan in scoring twice in the past two seasons. If he gets hot from three, I think he swings one key Big Ten game in Michigan’s favor.
My educated guess: One game, with a high of 16 points
Several other players could lead Michigan in scoring for one game next season. It wouldn’t surprise me if Roddy Gayle Jr., Elliot Cadeau or Aday Mara did so.
Who do you think leads Michigan in per-game scoring the most next season? Let us know in the comments.