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Two more members of Michigan basketball’s national title team are getting an NBA opportunity.
Nimari Burnett inked an Exhibit-10 contract with the Toronto Raptors and Roddy Gayle Jr. agreed to a Summer League deal with the Detroit Pistons, the program announced Thursday.

Burnett, 24, and Gayle, 22, both signed as undrafted free agents following a banner draft for Michigan, which produced three picks in the top 12 for the first time in program history: Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 to Dallas Mavericks), Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11 to Golden State Warriors) and Aday Mara (No. 12 to Oklahoma City Thunder).

Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) agreed to a Summer League deal with the Pistons.
While Johnson, Lendeborg and Mara were the leading figures on Michigan’s title team, Burnett and Gayle provided veteran leadership and a steady presence throughout the winningest campaign in program history.
More: Michigan basketball makes history in NBA Draft: ‘It means everything’

But all that success didn’t come without sacrifice. Burnett and Gayle were among the returning players on this year’s roster who put the team’s goals before their own personal ambitions and playing time.
Gayle, who spent the first two seasons of his college career at Ohio State, averaged 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.1 minutes across 39 games this year. After spending much of his first season with the Wolverines in the starting lineup, he accepted a bench role and became one of the team’s key reserves.
Along the way, Gayle seemed to save his best performances for the postseason, earning him the nickname “March Roddy” from his teammates. During Michigan’s national title run, he posted a 14-point performance against Howard in the NCAA Tournament opener and a 16-point outburst against Alabama in the Sweet 16.
Burnett had college stops at Texas Tech and Alabama before he arrived at Michigan, where he spent three seasons, starting 109 consecutive games and averaged at least eight points each year. Last year, his minutes dropped from 26.3 per game to 19.8, but he still averaged 8.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists, shot 37.5% from 3-point range and was one of three Wolverines who started all 40 games.

Both guards are expected to play with their respective teams in the NBA Summer League, where they’ll get their shot to earn a roster spot for the 2026-27 season.
jhawkins@detroitnews.com
@jamesbhawkins
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Nimari Burnett signs with Raptors, Roddy Gayle Jr. signs with Pistons
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