Michigan basketball adds 7-foot center from Germany to 2025 recruiting class

Malick Kordel
Michigan basketball's newest addition, Malick Kordel (left), at Crisler Center. (Andrew Kahn | MLive.com)Andrew JKahn

Michigan’s men’s basketball program has likely added its final piece to its roster for the 2025-26 season.

The Wolverines announced Friday they have signed Malick Kordel, a 7-foot center from Germany. He spent last year playing with the Frankfurt Skyliners junior team in Germany’s third-tier league, averaging 11.3 points and 7.9 rebounds in just over 24 minutes per game.

The international prospect becomes Michigan’s fifth freshmen in its 2025 class, joining five-star Trey McKinney, four-stars Winters Grady and Oscar Goodman and three-star Patrick Liburd.

Landing Kordel is another win for Michigan head coach Dusty May on the recruiting trail. The second-year coach also has been active in the portal, adding four transfers for next season. Kordel, who visited Michigan for a game last winter, chose the Wolverines over several other notable programs such as Butler, Villanova, Iowa and Xavier.

His addition adds depth to an already deep front court that includes the nation’s No. 1 transfer prospect Yaxel Lendeborg, UCLA 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara and Illinois 6-foot-9 power forward Morez Johnson Jr.

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