​To everyone’s not-very-surprised chagrin, the Michigan Wolverines dominated headlines at last month’s NBA Draft, landing three players in a span of four picks. Morez Johnson joined Dusty May in Dallas after being selected ninth overall, with fellow lottery picks Yaxel Lendeborg (Golden State) and Aday Mara (Oklahoma City) soon following in the lottery. Those three names weren’t the only Wolverines familiar to fans. In fact, nearly half of the first-rounders played either for or against Michigan at some point last season. As we wind down the 2025-26 championship year, here’s a quick look back at how each of the 10 first-rounders who played for the Wolverines performed in their games last season.
Credit where it is due: Boozer outplayed Lendeborg and the Wolverines, posting 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists in the massive Duke win in Washington, D.C. Wagler emerged from relative anonymity to earn All-Big Ten First Team and Freshman of the Year honors, catapulting himself into a top-five projection. More importantly, he witnessed Michigan clinch the conference title on his home floor, even though he led the Illini with 23 points on 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc that night. Two different Wildcats were drafted in the first round after a loss in one of the most anticipated Final Four clashes in recent memory. Like many of his teammates, Burries struggled against the Wolverines, going 4-for-16 from the floor. Still, it was a strong year for the first-team All-Big 12 selection.
A former top-five prospect, Ament had a solid sophomore season, averaging 16.7 points per game. He scored 16 against Virginia and 18 against Iowa State, which gave Michigan fans some concerns heading into the Elite Eight. However, Michigan’s suffocating defense once again held the lottery pick to seven points on an inefficient 2-for-12 shooting. Steinbach didn’t command the most attention in the Big Ten, but he earned a spot on the All-Freshman team after averaging 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds this season. He faced the Wolverines in January, delivering 11 points and 14 rebounds in the Huskies’ home loss. The German forward made a successful American debut, earning a spot in the lottery.
Following his coach to Iowa City, Stirz kept the scoring pace, raising his average to 19.8 points per game while firing a high volume of threes. The Drake transfer played all 40 minutes against Michigan and nearly helped his squad pull off the upset against the conference-champion visitors, finishing with 21 points, but missing a three at the buzzer that would have tied the game. After earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team last year, Philon returned to claim First Team honors, averaging 22 points per game and hovering near 40 percent from three-point range. He was instrumental in the Sweet Sixteen, scoring 35 points in 39 minutes against the Wolverines, a performance that underscored his prowess and the high stakes of that matchup.