Seven-foot huge males don’t develop on timber. Fortunately for Dusty Might and Michigan basketball, they do typically enter the NCAA switch portal.
Such was the case with Aday Mara, who turned the 2026 Large Ten Defensive Participant of the Yr in a single yr with the Wolverines after taking part in sparingly with UCLA in his first two collegiate seasons.
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REQUIRED READING: Even with squeaky Yaxel, Michigan blasts Arizona in Last 4 because of supporting solid
With star Yaxel Lendeborg coping with an harm within the Last 4 in opposition to No. 1 Arizona, it was Mara who stepped up with a career-best efficiency to assist the Wolverines attain the nationwide championship sport.
Mara will doubtless be a key piece for Michigan because the Wolverines goal to win their first nationwide championship since 1989. Heading into the nationwide championship in March Insanity, here is what it’s worthwhile to know concerning the Michigan huge man:
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Michigan Wolverines guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) shakes arms with ahead Yaxel Lendeborg (23) in opposition to the Howard Bison through the second half of a primary spherical sport of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at Keybank Middle.
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Michigan Wolverines guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) shakes arms with ahead Yaxel Lendeborg (23) in opposition to the Howard Bison through the second half of a primary spherical sport of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at Keybank Middle.
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Michigan Wolverines heart Aday Mara (15) dunks the ball in opposition to Howard Bison guard Bryce Harris (34) through the second half of a primary spherical sport of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at Keybank Middle.
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Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty Might talks to ahead Yaxel Lendeborg (23) earlier than a substitution in opposition to the Howard Bison through the second half of a primary spherical sport of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at Keybank Middle.
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Michigan Wolverines ahead Yaxel Lendeborg (23) shoots the ball in opposition to Howard Bison guards Cam Gillus (2) and Alex Cotton (4) through the second half of a primary spherical sport of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at Keybank Middle.
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Michigan Wolverines guard Nimari Burnett (4) dunks the ball in opposition to the Howard Bison through the second half of a primary spherical sport of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at Keybank Middle.
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Michigan Wolverines ahead Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts after a dunk within the first half in opposition to the Saint Louis Billikens throughout a second spherical sport of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at Keybank Middle.
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Michigan Wolverines bench reacts within the second half in opposition to the Saint Louis Billikens throughout a second spherical sport of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at Keybank Middle.
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Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates along with his teammates after defeating the Saint Louis Billikens within the second spherical of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match at KeyBank Middle on March 21, 2026 in Buffalo, New York.
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Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with followers after defeating the Saint Louis Billikens within the second spherical of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match at KeyBank Middle on March 21, 2026 in Buffalo, New York.
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Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines dunks the ball in opposition to the Saint Louis Billikens within the second spherical of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match at KeyBank Middle on March 21, 2026 in Buffalo, New York.
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Michigan Wolverines huddles throughout a Candy Sixteen sport of the Midwest Regional of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide at United Middle.
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Michigan Wolverines ahead Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts within the second half in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide throughout a Candy Sixteen sport of the Midwest Regional of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at United Middle.
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Michigan Director of Basketball Operations KT Harrell, left, and Director of Participant Improvement Drew Williamson have fun a play in opposition to Alabama through the first half of NCAA Match Candy 16 spherical at United Middle in Chicago on Friday, March 27, 2026.
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Michigan Wolverines ahead Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide in a Candy Sixteen sport of the Midwest Regional of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at United Middle.
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Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a basket in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide through the first half within the Candy Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match on the United Middle on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Elliot Cadeau #3 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a basket in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide through the second half within the Candy Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match on the United Middle on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois
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Trey McKenney #1 and Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates through the second half in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide within the Candy Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match on the United Middle on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Head coach Dusty Might of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates the 90-77 win in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide within the Candy Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match on the United Middle on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Morez Johnson Jr. #21 and Roddy Gayle Jr. #11 of the Michigan Wolverines have fun in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide through the second half within the Candy Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match on the United Middle on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Head coach Dusty Might of the Michigan Wolverines reacts in opposition to the Tennessee Volunteers through the second half within the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match on the United Middle on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Yaxel Lendeborg #23 embraces Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines on the bench in opposition to the Tennessee Volunteers through the second half within the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match on the United Middle on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Yaxel Lendeborg #23, Aday Mara #15, and L.J. Cason #2 of the Michigan Wolverines react on the bench in opposition to the Tennessee Volunteers through the second half within the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match on the United Middle on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Michigan Wolverines ahead Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts within the second half in opposition to the Tennessee Volunteers throughout an Elite Eight sport of the Midwest Regional of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at United Middle.
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Michigan Wolverines ahead Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts within the second half in opposition to the Tennessee Volunteers throughout an Elite Eight sport of the Midwest Regional of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at United Middle.
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Michigan Wolverines ahead Yaxel Lendeborg (23) reacts from the bench within the second half in opposition to the Tennessee Volunteers throughout an Elite Eight sport of the Midwest Regional of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at United Middle.
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Michigan Wolverines ahead Morez Johnson Jr. (21) dunks the ball within the second half in opposition to the Tennessee Volunteers throughout an Elite Eight sport of the Midwest Regional of the boys’s 2026 NCAA Match at United Middle.
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Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts in opposition to the Tennessee Volunteers through the second half within the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match on the United Middle on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Elliot Cadeau #3, Yaxel Lendeborg #23, and Roddy Gayle Jr. #11 of the Michigan Wolverines react in opposition to the Tennessee Volunteers through the first half within the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match on the United Middle on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
Aday Mara 2026 NCAA Match stats
After a powerful common season the place he posted profession highs throughout the board, Mara has come alive for Michigan within the Males’s NCAA Match, together with a career-high 26 factors in a dominant win over No. 1 Arizona within the Last 4.
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Here is a have a look at Reed’s stats throughout March Insanity:
vs. No. 16 Howard:Â 19 factors (8-of-10 capturing), seven rebounds, six assists and three blocks in 21 minutes
vs. No. 9 Saint Louis:Â 16 factors (7-of-12 capturing), 5 rebounds, 4 blocks, 5 assists and a steal in 26 minutes
vs. No. 4 Alabama:Â 8 factors (4-of-8 capturing), 5 rebounds, 4 assists and two blocks in 27 minutes
vs. No. 6 Tennessee:Â 11 factors (4-of-6 capturing), 4 rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 18 minutes
vs. No. 1 Arizona: 26 factors (11-of-16 capturing), 9 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in half-hour
NCAA Match averages:Â 16.0 factors (65.4% capturing), 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.6 blocks and 0.4 steals per sport in 24.4 minutes
Aday Mara stats
Right here’s a have a look at Mara’s stats from his school profession with UCLA and Michigan:
2025-26 (Michigan):Â 12.2 factors per sport, 2.5 assists per sport, 6.8 rebounds per sport, 2.6 blocks per sport, 62.1% on area targets, 30% on 3-pointers, 59.6% on free throws (39 video games, 38 begins)
2024-25 (UCLA):Â 6.4 factors per sport, 4.0 rebounds per sport, 1.0 assists per sport, 1.6 blocks per sport, 59% on area targets, 57.7% on free throws (33 video games, 1 begin)
2023-24 (UCLA):Â 3.5 factors per sport, 1.9 rebounds per sport, 0.5 steals per sport, 0.7 blocks per sport, 44.2% on area targets, 70% on free throws (28 video games, 8 begins)
How tall is Aday Mara?
Mara is listed at 7-foot-3, 255 kilos on Michigan’s web site.
Aday Mara NBA draft inventory, mock draft predictions
Mara is a possible choice to go in Spherical 1 of the 2026 NBA Draft following a breakout season with Michigan through the 2025-26 school basketball season.
How outdated is Aday Mara?
Mara is 20 years outdated. He’ll flip 21 on April 7, the day after the nationwide championship sport.
Aday Mara recruit rating
Place rating:Â No. 3 C
State rating:Â No. 1 participant from Spain
Mara was a five-star recruit who was rated because the No. 3 heart and the No. 15 total prospect within the 2023 class, in keeping with 247Sports’ rankings Mara was unranked by the 247Composite rankings.
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Why did Aday Mara switch from UCLA to Michigan?
Following two seasons at UCLA, Mara opted to switch to Michigan from UCLA for an opportunity to play in a greater surroundings. The dialogue about extra taking part in time or beginning didn’t happen for Mara with Might earlier than he dedicated to the Wolverines.
“I went from a nasty surroundings [at UCLA], the place virtually no one needed to apply, as a result of as I stated, it was a nasty surroundings, to a terrific one. It was the other,” Mara advised USA TODAY Sports activities earlier than the Elite Eight in Chicago.
The place is Aday Mara’s hometown?
Mara is from Zaragoza, Spain. He performed basketball professionally for Casademont Zaragoza in Spain earlier than becoming a member of UConn in 2023.
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Mara’s father, Javier Mara, performed basketball professionally in Spain, whereas his mom, Gely Gomez, was on Spain’s girls’s nationwide volleyball crew.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Who’s Aday Mara? What to find out about Michigan basketball star
