Early returns on Michigan frosh Oscar Goodman: ‘He’s going to be a guy that impacts winning’
Illinois dominated Michigan on the glass in a blowout win Monday, leaving the Wolverines with no answers. For all its strengths this year, U-M is lacking in the rebounding and physicality department … but help is on the way next year.
Michigan freshman forward Oscar Goodman joined the team in January and has been working on the scout team. Not only has he been impressing, but he also provides that element that’s been lacking this season, head coach Dusty May said Monday.
“Oh man … I think he’s got a real winning DNA. I think he’s someone who really, really cares about his teammates,” May said. “He’s played with physicality in practice … it’s an adjustment, and that’s why we wanted to bring him over, so this adjustment would happen now.
“I just think he’s going to be a guy that impacts winning. He’s done it his entire career. He addresses some of our deficiencies, which is the physicality, the ability to get to basketballs. He’s quick off the floor with two feet. He likes contact. So, we think he’ll be someone the Michigan fans will enjoy watching.”
Goodman joined the team as a 6-7 power forward out of Opunake, New Zealand after developing at the NBA Global Academy in Australia. NBA scouts started to notice him at last summer’s FIBA U17 World Cup in Istanbul, where he led New Zealand to an historic fourth-place finish. He made the All-Tournament first team after averaging 17.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He was also named MVP of the FIBA U16 Asian Championship in 2023.
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His game has continued to progress since he arrived in Ann Arbor. He can put it on the floor a bit, but as May noted, he also seems built for the Big Ten with his frame and determination.
“He’s been a four-man, a power forward up to this point,” May said. “He’s a really good driver … he’s an aggressive finisher around the basket. In our finishing drills, he’s one of our better finishers now. He has a reliable three point shot when he has time and his feet are set, but now we’re trying to expand his game where he’s a better shooter, which will set up his quick first step drive with the ball.”
Most importantly, May said, “he’s awesome to coach.
“He’s got the personality traits you want from a good, talented basketball player,” May said.
Making him a player likely to be part of the Michigan basketball rotation next season for the 2025-26 Wolverines.
