Cason's Michigan Transfer
L.J. Cason to Enter Transfer Portal, Lone Michigan Player to Depart After Coaching Change
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Key Points
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The transfer portal window opens July 15 for a 15-day period, with LJ Cason signaling his intention to enter the portal shortly after Dusty May's departure and Mike Boynton Jr.'s installation as Michigan's coach.
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Cason posted strong shooting numbers for Michigan last season, hitting 40.2% from three-point range and 50.3% overall while averaging 2.4 assists in 28 appearances.
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He is the lone departure among Michigan's 14 scholarship players after Dusty May left for the NBA, leaving the rest of the roster intact under the new coach.
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Cason underwent ACL surgery on April 9 after tearing his ACL in February, with reports suggesting he could still have a pathway back in 2026-27 depending on health and the NCAA's eligibility rules.
Michigan guard L.J. Cason plans to enter the transfer portal this summer, becoming the first roster departure under new head coach Mike Boynton Jr., according to Detroit News. The move follows Dusty May's exit to the Dallas Mavericks' coaching staff and leaves Michigan with 13 of its 14 scholarship players still in place.
Cason, a rising junior, averaged 8.4 points, 2.4 assists, and shot 40.2% from three-point range last season. He tore his ACL in February and had surgery on April 9. The 15-day transfer portal window opens July 15, per Yahoo Sports.
Cason Followed May From FAU to Michigan
Cason was not a Michigan recruit in the traditional sense. He came to Ann Arbor because of Dusty May. He had played for May at Florida Atlantic before following him north. That loyalty made him one of May's closest ties on the Wolverines' roster.
Before his injury, Cason was considered one of the nation's top backup point guards. He raised his scoring average to 11.8 points per game late in the season, per San Luis Obispo Tribune. His ACL tear in February cut that momentum short and now shapes his entire transfer timeline.
Boynton Takes Over a Nearly Intact Roster
Mike Boynton Jr. was named Michigan's new head coach after May left for the NBA. He was previously an assistant on the staff. Most players chose to stay. Guards Cadeau and McKenney are both returning, which gives Boynton a solid backcourt base to build around.
Cason's exit is notable precisely because he is the only one leaving. Thirteen scholarship players remain. That kind of roster continuity is rare after a coaching change in the NIL era, according to Ledger-Enquirer. Boynton inherits a program with real stability — minus one key guard.
ACL Recovery Clouds His Eligibility Picture
Cason's ACL surgery on April 9 means he may miss the 2025-26 season entirely. That is where the NCAA's five-in-five rule comes in. The rule lets a player earn up to five years of eligibility across five seasons. It could allow Cason to play in 2026-27 even if he misses a full year.
The pathway back exists, but it depends on his recovery. Reports suggest Cason is targeting a return in 2026-27, per Kentucky. Any program recruiting him will need to weigh his rehab timeline carefully. He brings real shooting value — 50.3% overall and 40.2% from three — but health is the big unknown.
NIL Era Coaching Changes Reshape Roster Decisions
Cason's departure is a clear example of how coaching changes now trigger player movement. In past eras, most players stayed put. Today, the transfer portal opens a fast exit. Cason's ties were to May, not to Michigan. Once May left, his reason to stay weakened.
Still, the fact that 13 others stayed shows Boynton earned quick trust. Michigan avoided the roster turnover that has hurt other programs after coaching changes, per Detroit News. Cason's exit stings given his shooting efficiency and upside, but it does not destabilize what Boynton is building.
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