Michigan’s roster picture keeps getting clearer, and the news keeps breaking the Wolverines’ way.
After Dusty May’s move to the Dallas Mavericks, Mike Boynton Jr. has been working to hold the group together - and so far, that effort has paid off. Before Friday, Michigan had already gotten its top four players to reaffirm their commitments. Then two more pieces stayed in the fold, as incoming freshmen Lincoln Cosby and Joseph Hartman announced they will play for the maize and blue.
Cosby brings the kind of upside that can change the long view of the program. The 6'10' forward was originally in the 2027 class as a top-20 prospect before a torn ACL pushed him into the 2026 cycle.
He planned to sit a year and learn the college game at Michigan under Dusty May, and that plan is still intact. Cosby was rated a top-40 prospect in the 2026 class and, while he won’t play this season, he could become a major factor in 2027.
May’s evaluation of Cosby was glowing when he signed him: "Lincoln has great size, athleticism and versatility, and he impacts the game in a lot of ways," Dusty May said after signing Cosby. "He can defend multiple positions, rebound, run the floor, and make plays with the ball in his hands. We're excited to support him through his rehab process and help him come back even stronger."
Cosby had offers from several elite programs, which only adds to the sense that Michigan is keeping a high-end talent who could matter in a big way down the road.
Hartman gives the Wolverines another promising piece, this one in the backcourt. The 6'4" guard signed with Michigan as the No. 92 overall prospect in the class out of Florida, according to the 247Sports Composite, and he’s known as a strong shooter. With the new 5-for-5 rule in place, he will automatically have five years of eligibility, and Michigan could choose to use him in short stretches this season to help him adjust to the college game.
May described Hartman this way after the signing: "Joseph's is a floor general," May said after signing Hartman. "He plays with great command and confidence, and his voice carries through the team.
He's a strong decision-maker who understands tempo, spacing and how to put teammates in successful positions. He combines toughness with feel.
He's not afraid to make the extra pass or take a big shot when it matters.
"His competitive nature and basketball IQ make him a perfect fit for how we want to play. What we love is that Joseph loves the process -- film, lifting, reps. He's wired to improve every day, and that mindset will serve him and our program extremely well."
Like Cosby, Hartman is more likely to become a bigger part of the conversation in 2027. Michigan could be looking at major turnover after this season, with guards Elliot Cadeau, Trey McKenney, and even Brandon McCoy Jr. potentially headed to the NBA. If that happens, players like Hartman will be expected to step in and carry more of the load.
In Other News...
Michigans Fragile Rebuild Just Hit A Critical JP Estrella Moment
JP Estrella arrived in Ann Arbor with the kind of rsum Michigan needed in its rebuild, bringing proven frontcourt production from Tennessee and the promise of a steady interior presence. Last season, he averaged 10 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting just under 60 percent, the sort of efficiency that can translate quickly if a new staff can keep him in the right role and healthy.
The bigger question around his transfer was always whether the fit would survive the turbulence around the program, and Estrella has already given Michigan one encouraging answer by settling in with interim coach Mike Boynton. He has also been well compensated on the NIL front, which only adds to the significance of keeping him in the fold as the Wolverines try to stabilize a roster that still has plenty of moving parts. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Got A Huge Offseason Answer In The Frontcourt
Michigans frontcourt picture for next season just got a lot clearer with J.P. Estrella officially staying in the fold for 2026-27. The Tennessee transfer gives the Wolverines another experienced big to pair with center Moustapha Thiam, and that matters as the roster takes shape around a core that has already held together through the offseason churn. Head coach Mike Boynton Jr. has also lined up other commitments, giving Michigan a sturdier foundation before the transfer portal opens.
Estrellas decision adds real weight to a position group that needed it, especially with the Wolverines having to replace size and production up front. In that sense, his return is more than just another retention story, because it helps define what Michigan can still count on in the paint while the rest of the roster picture continues to settle. The only question now is how much more frontcourt help the staff can still lock in before the portal starts moving in earnest. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Got A Reason To Keep Chasing 5-Star Joshua Dobson
Michigans push on the 2027 cornerback board got a needed boost with the commitment of four-star Monsanna Torbert, a win over Ohio State that helps keep the class moving in the right direction. But the bigger name in this cycle remains Joshua Dobson, the five-star defensive back Michigan had been chasing as part of its effort to stack elite talent at a premium position.
Dobsons decision to go elsewhere did not close the door on the Wolverines, and that is why this recruitment still matters. Michigan is expected to keep pressing for him, banking on the possibility that the early battle is only one chapter in a longer race for one of the top defensive backs in the country. [Read more 🡒]