Michigan center Aday Mara is the third Wolverine to be drafted in the 2026 lottery, coming off the board at No. 12 to the Thunder.

Mara, who spent his first two college seasons at UCLA, transferred to Michigan for his junior year and played a major role in the Wolverines’ national championship season. After coming off the bench for the Bruins as a freshman and sophomore, Mara was a full-time starter in Ann Arbor, averaging 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 2.4 assists in 23.4 minutes per game while shooting 66.8% from the floor.

A 7’3″ native of Spain, Mara was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year this spring and was the Wolverines’ standout player in a Final Foul victory over Arizona, racking up a season-high 26 points to go along with nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.

Mara saw his stock rise during the pre-draft process, which coincided with Victor Wembanyama leading the Spurs to a spot in the NBA Finals. Mara’s size makes him an intriguing option to attempt to combat Wembanyama and the rest of the league’s most skilled big men.

More to come…