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The man responsible for sending Michigan basketball to the Sweet 16 is coming back for another year.
Roddy Gayle Jr., the Wolverines wing who transferred to U-M after two years at Ohio State, is officially returning to Ann Arbor for his senior year, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation told the Free Press.
Gayle Jr. averaged 9.8 points and 3.4 rebounds on 43.1% shooting in 36 games (25 starts) as a junior. Gayle best game of the season came in the second round against Texas A&M when he scored a season-high 26 points on 7-for-14 shooting.
LISTEN UP: 'Hail Yes': Bryce Underwood review from Michigan football spring game
Most notably, it included a 4-for-6 performance from long range, without question the best of his season, after he'd struggled on 3-pointers much of the season. Leading into the game, Gayle had made just two of his prior 30 3-point tries as he fought through a 1-for-27 stretch over 2½ months.
Gayle also had an impressive performance in his return to Columbus. The OSU fans who once cheered for him were relentless with their boos, yet the U-M wing didn't let it affect him. Instead, he had nine points and eight rebounds and sored the go-ahead bucket in the final minutes of an 86-83 victory.
Gayle, who stands 6 feet 5 and 205 pounds, has played 107 career games (with 71 starts) and took a team-first approach when he agreed to come off the bench in the back half of the 2024-25 season.
He crossed the career 1,000-point threshold in Michigan's Sweet 16 loss to Auburn and was a solid defender all year, ending second on the team with 29 steals. Gayle told the Free Press he "100%" intended to return to Ann Arbor following the season-ending loss in Atlanta, but after an offseason of movement, nothing was certain.
The Wolverines have brought in three players in the transfer portal in point guard Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), big man Morez Johnson (Illinois) and center Aday Mara (UCLA). There's a fourth keeping U-M in limbo — UAB's Yaxel Lendeborg. The No. 1 available player in the portal, according to 247 Sports' ranking, has committed to U-M, but is still testing the NBA draft.
Michigan also learned April 21 that Nimari Burnett will return for a final season of college ball, likely giving the Wolverines the same wing combination that led to a Big Ten tournament title in coach Dusty May's first year in Ann Arbor.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines 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: Michigan basketball: Roddy Gayle Jr. to return for senior season
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Roddy Gayle Jr., the Wolverines wing who transferred to U-M after two years at Ohio State, is officially returning to Ann Arbor for his senior year, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation told the Free Press.
Gayle Jr. averaged 9.8 points and 3.4 rebounds on 43.1% shooting in 36 games (25 starts) as a junior. Gayle best game of the season came in the second round against Texas A&M when he scored a season-high 26 points on 7-for-14 shooting.
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LISTEN UP: 'Hail Yes': Bryce Underwood review from Michigan football spring game
Most notably, it included a 4-for-6 performance from long range, without question the best of his season, after he'd struggled on 3-pointers much of the season. Leading into the game, Gayle had made just two of his prior 30 3-point tries as he fought through a 1-for-27 stretch over 2½ months.
Gayle also had an impressive performance in his return to Columbus. The OSU fans who once cheered for him were relentless with their boos, yet the U-M wing didn't let it affect him. Instead, he had nine points and eight rebounds and sored the go-ahead bucket in the final minutes of an 86-83 victory.
Gayle, who stands 6 feet 5 and 205 pounds, has played 107 career games (with 71 starts) and took a team-first approach when he agreed to come off the bench in the back half of the 2024-25 season.
You must be registered for see images
He crossed the career 1,000-point threshold in Michigan's Sweet 16 loss to Auburn and was a solid defender all year, ending second on the team with 29 steals. Gayle told the Free Press he "100%" intended to return to Ann Arbor following the season-ending loss in Atlanta, but after an offseason of movement, nothing was certain.
The Wolverines have brought in three players in the transfer portal in point guard Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), big man Morez Johnson (Illinois) and center Aday Mara (UCLA). There's a fourth keeping U-M in limbo — UAB's Yaxel Lendeborg. The No. 1 available player in the portal, according to 247 Sports' ranking, has committed to U-M, but is still testing the NBA draft.
Michigan also learned April 21 that Nimari Burnett will return for a final season of college ball, likely giving the Wolverines the same wing combination that led to a Big Ten tournament title in coach Dusty May's first year in Ann Arbor.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines 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: Michigan basketball: Roddy Gayle Jr. to return for senior season
Continue reading...
