Top 5 player in the transfer portal commits to SEC school over Michigan

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RALEIGH, NC - DECEMBER 31: Guard Juke Harris (2) of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons looks to pass the ball during the college basketball game between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the NC State Wolfpack on December 31, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Tough news for Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines, as former Wake Forest wing Juke Harris has officially committed to Tennessee.

NEWS: Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris has committed to Tennessee, he announced. One of the best players in the portal this spring, Harris averaged 21.4 points and 6.5 rebounds last season. Another massive add — and even more offense — for Rick Barnes' portal haul.

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) May 4, 2026

The Wolverines were out in front really early on in this portal recruitment, but a late surge from the Volunteers ended any chance they had at landing Harris. It especially hurts losing him considering he was in Ann Arbor for Michigan’s national championship celebration the weekend after winning the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan has signed three players out of the portal so far this offseason, and they’re all members of the front court. Tennessee forward/center J.P. Estrella was the first to announce his commitment to the Wolverines. That was followed up a couple weeks later by former LSU forward Jalen Reed, and then former Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam just one day after Reed’s announcement.

This news isn’t shocking, as it seemed like Michigan lost momentum really, really fast in this recruitment. Losing one of the best players in the portal is never a good thing, but it isn’t detrimental to the Wolverines’ 2026-27 season by any means. May earned commitments from a bunch of talented freshmen, including five-star guard/wing Brandon McCoy Jr., four-star forward Quinn Costello and four-star guard Joseph Hartman. It also helps that Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney are back for another year of college basketball.

So yes, while Harris ending up elsewhere is a bummer, it doesn’t mean Michigan is going to go from a title contender to a bottom-dweller in the Big Ten next season. There are still plenty of pieces in place to try and go back-to-back in the Big Ten and the NCAA Tournament.

For all the latest updates, be sure to check out our Michigan Basketball transfer portal tracker!

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