Wolverine Digest

Michigan basketball contacts a Big Ten starting center in the transfer portal

Trent Knoop|
Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Michigan WolverinesRutgers Scarlet Knights

Dusty May and Michigan are preparing for life after Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf. Goldin is out of eligibility and the Wolverines' head coach believes Wolf will be playing in the NBA next season after playing one year with the Wolverines.

With the transfer portal opening on Monday, Michigan has been connected to some big men already. The Wolverines made contact with San Diego State's 7-footer, Magoon Gwath. But he's not the only high-profiled big man Michigan is looking at. According to On3's Joe Tipton, the Wolverines have made contact with Rutgers' center, Lathan Sommerville.

Sommerville just finished his freshman season with the Scarlet Knights, and a handful of teams have made contact with him. Ohio State, Tennessee, USC, and Texas A&M, among others, have all made preliminary contact.

It's worth noting, Tipton mentioned Sommerville entered the portal with a 'do not contact' tag, which usually means he knows where he is going. He hails from Peoria (IL), and he would be the ideal big in Dusty May's system.

The athletic big started 15 of Rutgers' 32 games this season. He averaged 8.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in 20.9 minutes per game. With Michigan needing at least two bigs -- assuming Wolf does leave -- the 6-10 freshman could help fill a void for the Wolverines.

Lathan Sommervill
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

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For additional coverage of University of Michigan athletics:

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Trent Knoop
TRENT KNOOP

Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.

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