L.J. Cason plans to enter transfer portal, leave Michigan basketball
· Yahoo Sports
The last decision is in and it’s a notable loss for Michigan basketball.
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Junior guard L.J. Cason announced Monday on social media that he plans to enter the transfer portal after the program’s coaching change.
Cason was the lone Wolverine who had yet to announce his intentions following Dusty May’s departure to the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and is the only player who’s opting to explore his options elsewhere.
The other 13 players on the roster previously announced their plans to stay at Michigan for the 2026-27 season and play for Mike Boynton Jr., who had the interim tag removed and agreed to a two-year deal on Friday.
Under NCAA rules, the 15-day transfer window for Michigan players opens five days after Boynton’s official hiring as the full-time head coach. That means Cason will be able to enter the portal on Wednesday.
Cason committed to May when he was Florida Atlantic’s head coach and followed him to Michigan, where he cracked the rotation as a freshman and was a key contributor last season. He was playing his best basketball and was having a breakout campaign as a sophomore when he went down with a torn ACL in late February.
As the team’s backup point guard, Cason averaged 8.4 points and 2.4 assists in 18.6 minutes and shot 40.2% from 3-point range across 28 games last season.
Cason held off having surgery until after the postseason so he could still be with the team during the NCAA Tournament. He had the procedure done on April 9, three days after Michigan beat UConn in the national title game.
The typical recovery timeline from surgery for a torn ACL ranges anywhere from nine to 12 months. Given that time frame, it’s possible Cason could return as early as January or even miss all next season — wherever he ends up.
Cason initially planned to redshirt and sit out the entire 2026-27 season. But with the NCAA approving a new five-year, age-based eligibility model in June, he can suit up at some point next season and still have two years of eligibility remaining.
While losing Cason is a tough blow, Boynton still managed to keep the majority of what’s viewed as a top-10 roster together. And in the backcourt, Michigan will still have plenty of talent with the returns of Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney and the addition of Brandon McCoy Jr., a five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American.
It’s possible Boynton and the Wolverines could add more pieces to the roster if they see fit, considering they now have two scholarships at their disposal with Cason looking for another college.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: L.J. Cason plans to enter transfer portal, leave Michigan basketball