Junior point guard L.J. Cason is reportedly entering the transfer portal for the 2026-27 season, and it's a move that certainly gets your attention. What makes this story wild is that Cason is the only one of 14 scholarship players who was on the roster under ex-coach Dusty May choosing to leave rather than play for the new head coach, Mike Boynton Jr. That’s a testament to Boynton Jr.'s retention skills, but also a stark reminder of the individual choices players face.
The May Connection and a Tough Injury Timeline
Honestly, Cason's departure has been simmering since May bolted for the NBA this summer. The kid committed to May way back at Florida Atlantic for the 2024-25 season, then followed him straight to Ann Arbor when May took the Michigan gig. Talk about loyalty, right? So, when May left, Cason became one of the top guys to watch. It's a tricky spot for any player, especially when you're rehabbing a torn ACL he suffered back in February. There's still hope he can hit the court in the back half of this season, and with the NCAA's new five-in-five rule, there's no reason to hold him back once he's healthy. He was even in workout photos Michigan posted on social media just a few days before this news broke, so you know there was some serious back-and-forth on his decision.
What Cason Brought, And What The Wolverines Still Have
Losing Cason isn't nothing, don't get it twisted. Last season, he averaged 8.4 points and 2.4 assists a game, but he truly found another gear right before his injury. In February, he was lighting it up, scoring in double figures in four of five games and averaging 11.8 points per outing. Even in the road win over the Illini where he tore his ACL, he dropped nine points in just 13 minutes. That's a player who was hitting his stride. The timeline for his return from surgery, which he waited until after the NCAA Tournament to have, was always a bit uncertain. But let's be real, Michigan's backcourt is absolutely loaded, with Trey McKenney, Elliot Cadeau, and five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. already there. So, while Cason could have provided a mid-season boost, the Wolverines aren’t exactly short on talent.
Boynton Jr. Defies the NIL Era Odds
Despite Cason’s exit, you have to hand it to Coach Boynton Jr. In this wild NIL era of college sports, coaching changes can decimate a roster. Michigan just proved that doesn't always have to be the case. After winning an NCAA championship, they're still rolling into the new season as a top-10 roster. Boynton Jr. brought back nearly the entire team, and that's seriously impressive when other teams were hitting up Michigan players' agents the second May left town. Cason might be looking elsewhere, but the Wolverines are still absolutely stacked and ready for whatever comes next. It’s a new chapter, for sure, but the talent is undeniable.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.