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Michigan basketball center Aday Mara still has college eligibility, but he will at least consider declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft after winning the title.
At the team's national championship parade through the streets of down Ann Arbor, Mara said he does not have a definitive date for when he will decide on a return to Ann Arbor or declaring for the NBA Draft.
But does have a plan in place for once he finishes celebrating with his team.
"I'm going to L.A. [to meet with NBA teams]," Mara told the Free Press. "That's what will help me make my decision."
Mara averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds as he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and shot a team-best 66.8% from the floor. He also set a new school record with 103 blocks in 40 games (2.5 per contest) for U-M and could excite NBA teams not just for his size and touch around the rim, but his passing ability, which includes a knack for deep outlets down the court to start the fastbreak.
HOW THEY DID IT: Michigan basketball brilliance? An infinity puzzle − and now infinite glory
Per NCAA rules, a student-athlete whose team's basketball season has concluded can start the process by requesting an evaluation from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee with an NCAA-certified agent.
If he hires an agent not certified by the NCAA, he will forfeit his NCAA eligibility. At this point, Mara has not forgone his eligibility, but will meet with teams and NBA personnel to get feedback about where they believe he would go in the draft should he keep his name in.
Mara said he has a hard number he's looking for and if he gets it, his time in college would be over, but said he will likely gather intel for the rest of this month before he makes any final proclamation.
"If it's [top] 20," Mara said.
An NBA evaluator told the Free Press the day after Michigan beat UConn 69-63 to win the national championship he felt Mara had greatly improved his draft stock in the NCAA Tournament and said he, "will safely go in [the] top 20."
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Aday Mara NBA draft decision: What could sway return to Michigan
Continue reading...
At the team's national championship parade through the streets of down Ann Arbor, Mara said he does not have a definitive date for when he will decide on a return to Ann Arbor or declaring for the NBA Draft.
But does have a plan in place for once he finishes celebrating with his team.
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"I'm going to L.A. [to meet with NBA teams]," Mara told the Free Press. "That's what will help me make my decision."
Mara averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds as he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and shot a team-best 66.8% from the floor. He also set a new school record with 103 blocks in 40 games (2.5 per contest) for U-M and could excite NBA teams not just for his size and touch around the rim, but his passing ability, which includes a knack for deep outlets down the court to start the fastbreak.
HOW THEY DID IT: Michigan basketball brilliance? An infinity puzzle − and now infinite glory
Per NCAA rules, a student-athlete whose team's basketball season has concluded can start the process by requesting an evaluation from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee with an NCAA-certified agent.
If he hires an agent not certified by the NCAA, he will forfeit his NCAA eligibility. At this point, Mara has not forgone his eligibility, but will meet with teams and NBA personnel to get feedback about where they believe he would go in the draft should he keep his name in.
Mara said he has a hard number he's looking for and if he gets it, his time in college would be over, but said he will likely gather intel for the rest of this month before he makes any final proclamation.
"If it's [top] 20," Mara said.
An NBA evaluator told the Free Press the day after Michigan beat UConn 69-63 to win the national championship he felt Mara had greatly improved his draft stock in the NCAA Tournament and said he, "will safely go in [the] top 20."
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Aday Mara NBA draft decision: What could sway return to Michigan
Continue reading...
