Michigan will likely lose two pieces from its mens basketball national championship team while also adding a key transfer that could help the Wolverines defend their title. Center Moustapha Thiam, whom Rivals ranked as one of the top five players still available in the transfer portal, committed to Michigan on Friday. The 7-foot-2 center averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 31 games last season for Cincinnati. As a freshman with UCF, Thiam led the Big 12 with an average of 2.6 blocks per game.MOUSTAPHA MASTERCLASS 28 PTS | 11-17 FG | 8 REBMoustapha Thiam Highlights vs. #8 Kansas #Big12MBB | @GoBearcatsMBBpic.twitter.com/GyDKDVc8Ls Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) February 21, 2026Thiams commitment comes at an ideal time for head coach Dusty May, announced on the same day that center Aday Mara declared for the 2026 NBA Draft. Mara, 7-foot-2, plans to maintain his college eligibility, according to the Detroit Free Press. However, hes expected to be a lottery selection in the upcoming draft. Yahoo Sports Kevin OConnor projects him as the final lottery pick in his latest mock draft, going No. 14 overall. THE BIGS CONNECT FOR A CROSS-COURT ALLEY #MarchMadness@umichbballpic.twitter.com/GIZ19AqYR2 NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2026During his lone season at Michigan, Mara averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 points and 2.6 blocks in 40 games, which earned him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. In the Wolverines 91-73 win over Arizona in the Final Four, Mara scored a career-high 26 points with nine rebounds and two blocks. Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. also declared for the NBA Draft on Friday. Like Mara, he intends to maintain his college eligibility. But the 6-foot-9 forward may return to Ann Arbor if hes not among the top 20 selections in the first round. Yahoos mock draft currently projects him as the No. 24 pick. Starting all 40 games for the Wolverines, Johnson averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. In the national championship win over UConn, he scored 12 points with 10 rebounds and two blocks. With Yaxel Lendeborg expected to be a lottery selection (OConnor projects him at No. 11), Michigans national championship team could have three first-round draft picks. Despite potentially losing Mara and Johnson to the NBA Draft, May has filled their spots on the roster through the transfer portal. In addition to Thiam, Michigan also received commitments from Tennessee forward J.P. Estrella and forward Jalen Reed from LSU. The Wolverines are also pursuing guard Juke Harris, who played the past two seasons at Wake Forest.