​Michigan basketball’s top-five recruiting class remains intact with the early commitment of freshman forward Quinn Costello to stay with the program and suit up for the Wolverines this coming season, despite the recent coaching transition. Costello, one of two incoming McDonald’s All-Americans in Michigan’s 2026 class, confirmed to Rivals on Thursday that he will remain with the program and contribute for the 2026-27 season. He stands as the 13th Michigan pledge to stay after Dusty May’s departure to the NBA, and he completes the Wolverines’ six-man freshman class in remaining with the team. The lone exception so far is junior guard L.J. Cason, who is still deliberating his future while recovering from a torn ACL.
Keeping Costello on board represents a significant win for interim head coach Mike Boynton Jr. and the staff as they strive to preserve what many regard as a top-10 roster for the 2026-27 campaign. Costello’s path from a modest recruit to a top-50 prospect marks him as a centerpiece in Michigan’s 2026 class, which currently sits at No. 4 nationally in the 247Sports rankings. The 6-foot-10 forward is paired with five-star guard Brandon McCoy Jr. as one of two incoming McDonald’s All-Americans and is ranked as the No. 6 power forward in the nation.
“Quinn brings versatility and motor. He’s a big who runs the floor hard, rebounds outside his area, and embraces contact,” May said in a statement when Costello signed with Michigan last November. “He has a great touch and an instinct for positioning—both offensively and defensively. He’s continued to add strength and confidence in his perimeter game, and we see real potential for growth there.”
Costello will join a frontcourt mix that includes transfers J.P. Estrella, Moustapha Thiam and Jalen Reed, along with freshmen Lincoln Cosby and Marcus Moller, and returner Oscar Goodman. Collectively, this group is expected to fill the void left by lottery picks Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, and Aday Mara, with Costello anticipated to contribute immediately.
“As a versatile player, Costello has a much better chance to see the court as a freshman,” May commented in April. “He’s good enough to play. His ascent has been remarkable—he didn’t even get invited to the NBPA Top 100 Camp at first, then earned a last-minute invite, flew in the day of, and performed exceptionally well there. At 6-10, he’s skilled, he’s athletic, and in today’s landscape where you’re not facing older competition, he has a chance to be even more successful. He’s smart, tough, and hard-working. He’ll position himself to have an immediate impact. Like our other freshmen, Quinn brings a lot to the table—and like our other guys, he’s a Michigan-type player.”
With Costello’s decision to remain, Michigan strengthens its bid to maintain a robust core for the 2026-27 season and beyond, signaling confidence in the program’s ability to keep highly-rated freshmen together under a changing coaching staff.