Mike Boynton Jr. is set to lose his first player since being named head coach, as Michigan point guard L.J. Cason intends on entering the transfer portal upon its opening for every player on the Wolverines’ roster.
Cason came to Michigan as a lowly regarded three-star prospect out of Lakeland, Florida. Former head coach Dusty May landed his commitment at Florida Atlantic prior to him leaving for the Michigan job, so Cason followed him to Ann Arbor. He contributed right away as a true freshman, playing in all 30 games coming off the bench for the Wolverines. Cason averaged 4.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, one assist in 11.8 minutes per game.
He took a major step forward as a sophomore in the national championship-winning 2025-26 season, playing in 28 games (off the bench once again) and averaging 8.4 points, 2.4 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game. Cason was on a midseason heater — including putting up a career-high 18 points at Northwestern on Feb. 11 — prior to his season-ending torn ACL injury that he suffered in the Big Ten regular-season championship-clinching win at Illinois on Feb. 27.
Cason may have only played in seven more minutes per game between his freshman and sophomore years, but his shooting percentage significantly improved. This past season, Cason shot 50.3 percent from the field (81-for-161) and 40.2 percent from beyond the arc (33-for-82), more than doubling his three-point total as a freshman.
Prior to May leaving for the Dallas Mavericks, there was a plan in place for Cason to redshirt during the 2026-27 season. However, the 5-in-5 rule that passed by the NCAA earlier this summer enabled him to possibly be able to return for the upcoming season. This rule gives college athletes five years to compete from the time they turn 19 years old or graduate from high school, whichever happens first. This is set to end redshirting altogether and, in turn, let Cason return from injury sooner than once expected.
“Yeah, we’ve definitely thought about that,” Cason told The Wolverine’s Clayton Sayfie back in June. “Since that has been (reported to pass when voted on), me and the staff have talked. I’m sure by the time February comes, we’ll have a plan.
“I’m just taking it day by day. If I’m healthy by that time and able to play, then I am. If I’m not, I’m not.”
Unfortunately, Cason will be suiting up elsewhere if he is healthy enough to do so this season.
As always when players elect to enter the transfer portal, we wish Cason nothing but the best as he looks for his next college basketball home.
