Michigan's Aday Mara Brings Spanish Parents to Final Four

Mara's parents, former pro basketball and volleyball players, will experience March Madness for the first time.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:37am

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Michigan center Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 Spaniard, is thankful his parents Javier Mara and Gely Gomez will be with him at the Final Four in Indianapolis. The couple, former professional basketball and volleyball players in Spain, have only been able to attend a few of Mara's games when visiting for the holidays. Now they are staying with their son and plan to join him at the NCAA Tournament to experience March Madness in person.

Why it matters

Mara's parents' presence at the Final Four will allow him to celebrate a potential national championship with his family, something he lamented missing out on when Michigan won the Big Ten title. Mara's international background and versatile skillset have been key to the Wolverines' success this season.

The details

Mara transferred to Michigan last year after two seasons at UCLA, seeking a larger role with a team lacking a true center. He has thrived under coach Dusty May, setting a single-season school record with 100 blocks and earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. Mara also averages nearly 12 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, showcasing his nimble athleticism and ball skills for a player of his size.

  • Mara helped Michigan cut down the nets after winning the Big Ten championship a few weeks ago.
  • Michigan will face Arizona on Saturday night in the Final Four, with the winner advancing to play Connecticut or Illinois for the NCAA Tournament title on Monday night.

The players

Aday Mara

A 7-foot-3 center for the Michigan Wolverines, Mara transferred from UCLA last year and has emerged as a dominant defensive presence and versatile offensive player for the team.

Javier Mara

Aday Mara's father, a former professional basketball player in Spain.

Gely Gomez

Aday Mara's mother, a former professional volleyball player in Spain.

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, who has helped unlock Mara's potential and maximize his skills within the team's system.

Yaxel Lendeborg

A teammate of Aday Mara on the Michigan Wolverines, who has praised Mara's shot-blocking ability as a key to the team's defense.

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What they’re saying

“Having them here is amazing because I can spend time with them now and if we win it all, I can celebrate with them. It's special.”

— Aday Mara, Michigan Center

“There have been so many times this year where we've been not afraid to be more aggressive than we normally are because of the shot-blocking that we have down there. It's key to our defense.”

— Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan Teammate

“Once we started talking to him, I fell in love with him as a person — literally. It's impossible not to feel better about yourself because of how engaging he is, how warm he is, and he really, really cares about other people.”

— Dusty May, Michigan Head Coach

What’s next

If Michigan wins its semifinal game against Arizona on Saturday, the Wolverines will advance to the NCAA Tournament championship game on Monday night.

The takeaway

Aday Mara's international background and family support have been crucial to his development and success at Michigan, as the Wolverines aim to win their first national championship since 1989. Mara's presence as a dominant defensive anchor and versatile offensive threat has been a key factor in Michigan's deep NCAA Tournament run.