2 Michigan basketball players transfer, stay in Big Ten

While Burnett and Gayle are on the way out, the two-guard spot remains a bit crowded in Ann Arbor with McKenney announcing his return and five-star combo guard Brandon McCoy Jr. set to join the program.

Kordel, meanwhile, needed just eight days after he entered the transfer portal on April 9 to make his decision. The 7-2, 275-pound German freshman came to Ann Arbor as a raw prospect; he had a handball background and had only picked up basketball the past few years, but ultimately decided it was best to continue his growth elsewhere.

Kordel, 22, averaged 11.3 points and 7.9 rebounds in 24.2 minutes per game with the Skyliners Juniors in Frankfurt, Germany, before joining the Wolverines last summer. Kordel appeared in 14 games in 2025-26, almost exclusively in blowouts in the closing minutes. He averaged 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 4.1 minutes a night and shot 57.1% from the floor but made just one of five free throws.

Minnesota (15-18, 8-12 Big Ten) finished just below .500 in the first season under new coach Niko Medved, but often played teams tight − nine of their final 12 losses on the season came by 10 points or fewer. That included a 77-67 loss in Ann Arbor to Michigan on Feb. 24.

Michigan center Malick Kordel (32) dunks against Middle Tennessee during the second half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

The Wolverines aren't expecting any other players to enter the transfer portal and are now looking to make a few more additions to next year's roster as they await final decisions from Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara, both debating whether or not to enter the NBA draft or return for another season of college ball.

U-M has made one addition in the portal, getting big man J.P. Estrella (Tennessee), who averaged 10.0 points and 5.4 boards for the Volunteers last year.

Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Winters Grady, Malick Kordel transferring to another Big Ten program