Michigan head coach Dusty May Send Clear Message After Signing Another Top Prospect A 7-foot-3, 255-pounder From Zaragoza
Michigan men’s basketball head coach Dusty May has earned a reputation as something of a specialist when it comes to identifying and developing 7-foot big men at the college level.
With a proven track record that includes turning raw prospects like Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf into standout players, May’s name has become well-known throughout the basketball world. His success has made Michigan an appealing destination not only for high school recruits but also for transfer portal prospects looking for development and opportunity.
This offseason, May set out to find replacements for Goldin and Wolf—bigs who could handle the ball, pass, rebound, and make an impact on both ends. One of the top additions: UCLA transfer Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3, 255-pound center from Zaragoza, Spain. Though he arrived at UCLA as an unpolished international talent, Mara quickly showed potential with his passing, touch around the rim, and ability to control the paint and open up scoring for teammates.
Playing time was limited early in his freshman season, but things began to shift midway through the year.
“We played Iowa, and I didn’t get on the floor at all,” Mara said on this week’s Defend The Block podcast. “Then came Wisconsin, and I had a really strong performance.”
That performance proved to be a turning point. Mara exploded for 22 points on perfect 7-of-7 shooting from the field and 8-of-12 at the line, along with five rebounds and two blocks, helping UCLA pull off an 85–83 upset. From there, his role only grew.
“That game changed everything,” Mara said. “They kept giving me chances, and I kept proving myself. I was just really happy to contribute.”
UCLA big man Aday Mara against Wisconsin:
Career-high 22 points | 5 rebounds | 2 blocks | 7 fouls taken
7-7 fg
8-11 ft (72.7%) @AdayMaraNews pic.twitter.com/d2d2hR7BaQ— Those Four Letters (@krisjohnsonlive) January 22, 2025
It’s uncommon for a role player to have such a noticeable impact on winning, but the numbers made Mara’s value clear — UCLA played significantly better with him on the floor. By season’s end, the Bruins were 10-1 in games where Mara logged at least 15 minutes, with the only loss coming in their NCAA Tournament second-round matchup against Tennessee.
Still, despite his late-season emergence, Mara saw limited minutes in just half of UCLA’s games. Wanting a larger role, he decided it was time for a change.
“I chose to enter the transfer portal because, going into my second year, I still wasn’t seeing the opportunity to consistently contribute in games,” Mara said. “It was a tough decision, especially after how well I played in the second half of the season.
“After March Madness ended, I just wanted to go home, clear my head, reflect on these past two years, talk with my family, and make the best decision moving forward.”
Michigan, meanwhile, was actively searching for a big man who could log real minutes and make an impact on both ends — particularly someone who could fit into their fluid, big-man-friendly offense, which often runs through the frontcourt with back-cuts, screens, and mismatches.
When Mara entered the portal, Dusty May didn’t need to do much digging.
“He really came on late in the season,” May said in July. “He had some huge games. He didn’t play well against us, but from scouting, we saw enough to go after him aggressively. He’s exactly what we thought — an incredible person, a high-level passer, and really, really tall.”
Interestingly, that same game stuck with Mara too — not because of how he played, but because of how Michigan used its bigs, especially Vlad Goldin, who dropped a career-high 36 points.
“I didn’t play much that game, so I watched a lot of it,” Mara said. “I loved how they moved the ball, how they used their big men. When I spoke to Coach May, he told me that was the vision for this year too. That was really exciting for me — joining a program that knows how to use bigs and play through them.”
Mara is expected to be a potential starter for the Wolverines this season. While his previous two years came with limited court time, his tools and vision make him an intriguing fit in Ann Arbor.
Last season, he averaged 6.4 points, four rebounds, and one assist in just 13 minutes per game. According to KenPom, he also posted a 16.6% assist rate — an impressive number for a center — showcasing his passing ability.
With a roster full of capable scorers, Mara’s skillset could unlock scoring chances not just for himself, but for everyone around him.
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