In Reply to: I hold Michigan and May responsible. posted by ej on March 21, 2026 at 14:33:08
that I copied from AI sources:
Here's the breakdown based on reports from spring 2025:
"Mara, a 7-foot-3 center originally from Spain, completed two seasons with the UCLA Bruins (his freshman and sophomore years, 2023-24 and 2024-25).
After the 2024-25 season, he decided not to return to UCLA for his junior year. Reports (including from the Los Angeles Times, On3, ESPN, and others) confirm he entered the transfer portal around late March/early April 2025—shortly after the portal window opened (typically post-season for spring transfers).
He committed to Michigan shortly thereafter (announced around April 11, 2025, per sources like Michigan Daily, Wolverines Wire, and On3).
Mara has since played for Michigan (e.g., facing UCLA in a 2026 game as a Wolverine, per MLive coverage), where he's taken on a bigger role under coach Dusty May.
This fits the standard transfer portal process for NCAA basketball: Players with remaining eligibility can enter the portal after any season (including after their second year), become recruitable by other schools once listed, and transfer if they choose. Mara had multiple years of eligibility left (as a sophomore entering the portal), and the move was driven by seeking more playing time/opportunity after limited minutes at UCLA (averaging around 13 mpg in his second season with 6.4 PPG and 4 RPG)".
So whatever happened behind closed doors and rumors leading up to this, I doubt anyone will ever know for sure as it apparently was within the NCAA Portal/transfer rules.