- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Michigan Loses 7-Foot-2 Center Kordel to Transfer Portal
Wolverines add Tennessee forward Estrella but see second big man depart via the portal.
Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:21pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Michigan's frontcourt faces a shakeup as the Wolverines lose a 7-foot-2 center to the transfer portal.Penn State Erie TodayMichigan basketball has lost 7-foot-2 center Malick Kordel to the transfer portal, just a day after sharpshooter Winters Grady entered the portal. Kordel, a German big man, appeared in 14 games for the Wolverines last season, averaging 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. The Wolverines are expected to target other top transfer portal options, including Kansas center Flory Bidunga and Wake Forest guard Juke Harris.
Why it matters
Kordel's departure leaves Michigan with a hole in the frontcourt, as the team looks to build on its roster for the upcoming season. The Wolverines have already added a key transfer in JP Estrella, but will need to find a replacement for the 7-foot-2 Kordel to maintain their size and depth in the paint.
The details
Kordel, a 7-foot-2 German center, played limited minutes for the Wolverines last season, averaging just 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in 14 appearances. He saw his most playing time in the season opener against Oakland University, where he played 8 minutes. Kordel's most productive games came against McNeese State and Penn State, where he scored 4 points in each contest.
- Kordel entered the transfer portal on April 8, 2026.
- Michigan added Tennessee forward JP Estrella to its roster on April 9, 2026.
The players
Malick Kordel
A 7-foot-2 German center who played one season for the Michigan Wolverines before entering the transfer portal.
JP Estrella
A transfer forward who committed to play for the Michigan Wolverines on April 9, 2026.
Flory Bidunga
A top transfer target for the Michigan Wolverines, a center from Kansas.
Juke Harris
A top transfer target for the Michigan Wolverines, a guard from Wake Forest.
What’s next
Michigan is expected to target a few other top players via the transfer portal, including No. 1 transfer Kansas center Flory Bidunga and No. 2 transfer Wake Forest guard Juke Harris.
The takeaway
Kordel's departure leaves a hole in Michigan's frontcourt that the team will need to address through the transfer portal. The Wolverines have already added one key transfer in JP Estrella, but will likely need to find a replacement for the 7-foot-2 German center to maintain their size and depth in the paint.
