Michigan lost its national championship coach this week when Dusty May bolted for the Dallas Mavericks. But the Wolverines just got a piece of good news they badly needed.
J.P. Estrella, the big man who transferred in from Tennessee, told ESPN he’s sticking around. The 6-foot-11 forward arrived in Ann Arbor nearly two weeks ago and said he’s already built a quick connection with interim coach Mike Boynton and his new teammates. That bond was strong enough to keep him from reconsidering after May’s departure.
Estrella had a real breakout season for the Volunteers in 2025-26. He averaged 10 points and five boards a game, started 13 of 33 appearances, and showed noticeable improvement from three-point range. Tennessee made the NCAA Tournament and pushed all the way to the Elite Eight before getting knocked out. For a guy his size to stretch the floor like he did? That’s the kind of skill set Michigan needs to hold onto.
Michigan moves on without May
May’s exit stings. He just won the Wolverines a national title, and now he’s gone to the NBA. But Boynton stepped in and the program isn’t exactly falling apart. Boynton was previously the head coach at Oklahoma State, where he helped land Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. His tenure in Stillwater had its ups and downs — some good seasons, some struggles — but he knows what it takes to compete at a high level.
“I found out Monday morning like everybody else,” Boynton told 247 Sports. “First of all, what a tremendous opportunity. Dusty is one of the elite basketball coaches in the world, I think. He obviously did great work here at Michigan with us, and his record is going to continue to do well, and we’re excited tonight for these guys here at the Draft, and for Michigan basketball, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue to lead us.”
That press conference quote was a lot of sentences strung together. But the core message is clear: Boynton wants the full-time job, and keeping Estrella is a huge first step in proving he can hold this roster together.
Estrella wasn’t a household name until this past season. But his development into a reliable scoring and rebounding presence makes him a key piece for Michigan’s frontcourt. If Boynton can convince a few more transfers to stay and maybe bring in some new faces, the Wolverines might not take as big a step back as people expected.
College basketball season tips off in the fall. Boynton has a few months to figure out the rest of the roster.
Leave a Comment