'The best team ever assembled': How Michigan's 'Monstars' converged for a title

Michigan's starting lineup of transfers, led by Yaxel Lendeborg, won the national championship in dominant fashion.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 5:18am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a college basketball championship game, with fragmented and overlapping shapes in vibrant colors representing the players and movement on the court.Michigan's 'Monstars' lineup of transfer stars converged to form one of the most dominant championship teams in recent college basketball history.Ann Arbor Today

Michigan's national championship team was assembled through the transfer portal, with a starting lineup of upperclassmen transfers including Yaxel Lendeborg, Elliot Cadeau, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara. Head coach Dusty May embraced the transfer model, believing the right combination of talent could lead to success, and the Wolverines rolled through the season as the self-proclaimed 'best team ever assembled' before cutting down the nets.

Why it matters

Michigan's title run showcases the growing influence of the transfer portal in college basketball, with experienced upperclassmen transfers playing a central role on the sport's biggest stage. The Wolverines' championship also highlights the potential of a coaching philosophy that prioritizes finding the right fit for players over keeping them at one school for four years.

The details

After entering the transfer portal following two seasons at UAB, Yaxel Lendeborg chose to join Michigan over pursuing the NBA draft, lured by the Wolverines' promise to develop his game. Lendeborg was the missing piece for a Michigan team that also featured transfers Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois), and Aday Mara (UCLA). Head coach Dusty May, who had a history of success with transfer-heavy rosters, assembled this group of 'Monstars' who quickly gelled and dominated the season, referring to themselves as 'the best team ever assembled' just weeks into the year.

  • Lendeborg entered the transfer portal and NBA draft after the 2024-25 season.
  • Lendeborg chose to join Michigan over the NBA in the summer of 2025.
  • Michigan rolled through the 2025-26 season, going 37-3 and winning the national championship on April 7, 2026.

The players

Yaxel Lendeborg

A 6-foot-9 forward who transferred to Michigan after two seasons at UAB, Lendeborg was the team's leading scorer and was named Big Ten Player of the Year.

Elliot Cadeau

A former standout at North Carolina who transferred to Michigan, Cadeau was the team's starting point guard and a key playmaker.

Morez Johnson Jr.

A transfer from Illinois, Johnson provided interior presence and efficient scoring for the Wolverines as part of their dominant frontcourt.

Aday Mara

The 7-foot-3 center transferred from UCLA and formed a formidable trio with Lendeborg and Johnson in Michigan's frontcourt.

Dusty May

The Michigan head coach embraced the transfer model and assembled this talented group of upperclassmen transfers, leading them to the national championship.

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What they’re saying

“We said, 'You've got to get good at some of these other things, and we're going to help you learn it.' And then when you struggle, we're going to watch film and figure out what we can do to improve it. And when you do it well, we're going to be damn unstoppable.”

— Mike Boynton, Michigan assistant coach

“I feel like we're the best team in college basketball. We might be the best Michigan team ever. We're going to try to go for that.”

— Yaxel Lendeborg

“We say it before every game when we step onto the court. Everybody truly believes that.”

— Morez Johnson Jr.

“I would say just the freedom that we have as players, the confidence that he gives us, it's probably one of the keys. We don't play with sets or plays. We just hoop, so it's easier like that to create, to play your game.”

— Aday Mara

“There's a confidence element to it with all these guys. Elliot obviously lost some of that, some of his swag. The thing that makes a little guard good is just, like, believing you're better than what everybody talks about.”

— Mike Boynton, Michigan assistant coach

What’s next

The Wolverines will look to defend their national championship next season, with several key players potentially declaring for the NBA draft.

The takeaway

Michigan's title run showcases the growing influence of the transfer portal in college basketball, with experienced upperclassmen transfers playing a central role in the Wolverines' dominant championship season. The team's success also validates head coach Dusty May's coaching philosophy of prioritizing finding the right fit for players over keeping them at one school for four years.