Dusty May has done some quality work in the transfer portal this offseason, loading up on guys in the front court in Tennessee forward/center J.P. Estrella
, LSU forward Jalen Reed and, most recently, Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam.But there is still some work to be done in order to fill out the roster for the 2026-27 season. The Wolverines are hoping their final available roster spot goes to Wake Forest wing Juke Harris, one of the top players in the portal. He averaged 21.4 points and 6.5 rebounds
per game as a sophomore this past season and was an All-ACC Second Team player. He is considered the final missing piece for Michigan’s best shot at going back-to-back in the Big Ten and the NCAA Tournament.
Harris visited Michigan during the national championship celebration a couple weekends ago, but he notably did not end up committing during that trip like some anticipated might happen. He left Ann Arbor and met with North Carolina’s coaching staff before doing the same with Tennessee’s coaching staff.
On3’s Joe Tipton ($) wrote an update story on Harris on Monday morning, and it appears momentum has slowed down considerably for the Wolverines and is gaining steam for the Volunteers. Here’s what Tipton had to say:
“Dusty May and the reigning national champs got the first crack at him a couple of weeks ago, hosting him on campus, but he left Ann Arbor without a commitment. As time has went on, sources say Michigan’s communication with Harris and his family has slowed significantly and their previous momentum has cooled. That said, the Wolverines would still gladly take him if he decides to come, assuming they still have a spot — and the NIL funds available — by the time he makes a decision.
“That leaves Tennessee. Rick Barnes and his staff have stayed in consistent, frequent communication, making it clear Harris is a top priority for the Vols. He strongly considered Tennessee out of high school and nearly landed in Knoxville before a last-second change of heart led him to Wake Forest. With Michigan’s momentum cooling and North Carolina filling up other spots, Tennessee has emerged as the leader, but the NBA Draft still looms large.
“As always, portal recruiting remains fluid. On3 is also not ready to rule out another school making a late push and getting in the mix.”
To me, it seems like Harris is waiting as long as he can to go through the NBA Draft process and ensure he gets the biggest payday. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but it appears the team that is willing to wait the longest (and potentially pay the most) will eventually land his commitment. Even if he does announce a commitment to a college team for next year, he will likely go through the draft process before arriving at his future school.
Should the Wolverines miss out on Harris, it would not be a surprise to see May and company go after another wing in the portal. Two of their three additions (Estrella and Reed) happened with zero reporting taking place beforehand. This coaching staff moves in silence in the portal, so it’s safe to assume they’ve got multiple backup options in the event Harris does not transfer here.
Where do you think Harris will transfer to? Or do you think Harris will just stay in the NBA Draft? Let us know down in the comments below.
