US EditionMichigan’s Aday Mara declares for NBA draft
Mara averaged 12.1 points and 2.6 blocks, then boosted his stock with a 26-point Final Four performance.
- On Friday, April 24, 2026, Michigan center Aday Mara announced he would enter the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining collegiate eligibility, joining fellow frontcourt starter Morez Johnson Jr. in declaring for the professional selection process.
- After two seasons of limited success at UCLA, Mara transferred to Michigan and flourished as a key piece of their national championship-winning squad, averaging 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
- The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year set a Michigan single-season record with 103 blocks, anchoring the nation's top 2-point defense while shooting 66.8% from the field and scoring 26 points against Arizona in the NCAA Tournament.
- With Mara and Johnson Jr. declaring for the draft, Michigan has moved to retool its frontcourt by securing commitments from Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam, LSU veteran Jalen Reed, and freshman Quinn Costello to bolster the rotation.
- Projections for Mara range from the lottery to the late first round, with ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo noting his "unusual mix of skills" warrants serious consideration ahead of the NBA Combine.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Aday Mara declares for NBA Draft
In only one year, Aday Mara went from coming off the bench at UCLA to anchoring the national-championship winning defense of the Michigan men’s basketball team, to now declaring for the NBA Draft. After not starting a game for the Bruins in the 2024-25 season, Mara recorded 39 starts in 40 games for the Wolverines, averaging 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game along with a team-leading 2.58 blocks, a number good for sixth in the nation. Mara w…
Detroit Free Press
USA TodayMichigan's Aday Mara declares for 2026 NBA Draft but keeps eligibility
Potential Lottery Pick Aday Mara Declares For Draft, Maintains College Eligibility
University of Michigan center Aday Mara has decided to enter his name in this year’s draft but will keep his college eligibility, Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press reports. Mara, a potential lottery pick, played a major role in the Wolverines’ national championship season as their starting big man after transferring from UCLA. Mara came off the bench in two seasons with the Bruins but started 39 of 40 games for Michigan, averaging 12.1 point…
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