Michigan Basketball C Aday Mara declares for the 2026 NBA Draft

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines dunks in the first half against the Arizona Wildcats in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images

After one incredible successful season in Ann Arbor that ended with a national championship, big man Aday Mara is leaving Michigan one year early to go to the NBA Draft.

This report came out not long after Morez Johnson Jr. also declared for the draft while retaining his college eligibility.

After hardly being utilized at UCLA his first two years in college, the 7-foot-3 Spanish big man transferred to Michigan ahead of his junior year. That move paid off in a huge way, as he led Michigan’s front court all season long and earned a ton of accolades in the process. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after setting a new program record for blocks in a single season. He also was a third-team All-Big Ten player.

Mara saved his best game for the Final Four against a team very comparable to Michigan in the Arizona Wildcats. He put up a career-high 26 points, as well as nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks, to lead the Wolverines to the National Championship.

On the season, Mara averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 66.8 percent from the field. He also went 3-of-10 on shots from beyond the arc; those were the first three-point shot attempts of his college career.

We wish Mara nothing but the best of luck in the future, whether that be here in Ann Arbor next season or in the pros.