Will Michigan have any returning players next season? Youssef Khayat became the latest Wolverine to enter the transfer portal, doing so on Wednesday, according to a program spokesperson.
Khayat, a sophomore forward, joins teammates Dug McDaniel, George Washington III, and Tarris Reed Jr. in the portal, which opened on Monday.
The Lebanon native appeared in just 17 games this season, averaging 5.4 minutes in those contests. He played sparingly in nine games as a freshman, never able to crack the rotation during his Michigan career.
His head coach, Juwan Howard, was fired on Friday, though sources in Lebanon indicated weeks ago Khayat was likely headed towards the portal regardless.
The 6-foot-9 Khayat arrived in Michigan with great potential, having played professionally in France and with the Lebanese national team. He was a late addition to Michigan’s 2022 recruiting class, joining the Wolverines that August while they were in Europe for a 10-day trip that included three exhibition games.
“When you see a guy that can be a huge, valuable part of this group and team, it was all in (to recruit him),” Howard said. He added that Michigan would “need” Khayat’s contributions. It never materalized.
Khayat needed to get stronger, and various injuries also prevented him from playing more as a freshman. With Michigan shorthanded due to injuries, Khayat started the last game of his freshman season, a second-round NIT loss at Vanderbilt.
Most of his playing time this year was at the end of blowout losses. His career high was six points, scored early last season; his high this season was four points. Khayat did not play in Michigan’s final game of the season, Wednesday’s Big Ten Tournament loss to Penn State.
Michigan’s roster has whittled down since that game. Outside of a few players who would be using extra eligibility to continue their college careers, redshirt sophomore Will Tschetter is the only potential returner who hasn’t yet entered the transfer portal.
