Roddy Gayle Jr. is back in the picture for Michigan, and the Wolverines are moving ahead like he’ll be part of the rotation from day one.
After exhausting his four years of eligibility, Gayle entered the NBA Draft, went undrafted and spent time in the NBA Summer League with the Detroit Pistons. Then the legal fight over the NCAA’s five-for-five rule opened the door for another season, and Gayle was among the players who filed for that extra year. He was granted a fifth year of eligibility by the Niagara County Supreme Court, and for now he’s fully eligible to play for Michigan this season.
That return gives the Wolverines a veteran piece with a different kind of polish than when he first left. During Big Ten Media Days, Michigan head coach Mike Boynton Jr. pointed to two areas where he believes Gayle has taken a real step forward.
“There were points in both of the last two seasons where he struggled with his shot in particular,” said Boynton Jr. “I think going through that has helped build some callousness, a little toughness, a little bit more mental toughness to get through the season.
And so I think his shooting, but also his playmaking. I think he’s a more experienced passer, and he sees the game a little bit clearer, and it’s a little bit slower for him, which is always good.”
Boynton Jr. also said the brief Summer League run helped Gayle, even as the NCAA situation remains something of a moving target. An appeal is still possible, but Michigan is operating with the understanding that Gayle is eligible right now.
“There’s an aspect of this that’s new for everybody, right,” asked Boynton Jr. “This is uncharted territory.
Right now he’s eligible. We’re functioning as if he’s eligible.
He’s going to play unless somebody calls me Saturday at midnight or before 2:00 Sunday. He’s going to play Sunday, and we’ll just function until we’re told otherwise.
We feel like he’s got a strong case. We’re excited about the opportunity and the things that he adds to our team, and we look forward to moving forward with the information we have in front of us.”
That means Gayle is expected to be on the floor when Michigan plays an exhibition against Eastern Michigan on Sunday.
And with five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. sidelined for the season after tearing his ACL overseas, the path is there for Gayle to slide into the starting wing spot the Wolverines were likely hoping McCoy would fill. For Michigan, that makes Gayle’s return more than a procedural win. It fills a real opening.
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