Skip to main content
michigan logo

L.J. Cason is peaking at the right time for Michigan — can it continue?

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•03/26/25•

Balas_Wolverine

Michigan Wolverines basketball guard L.J. Cason scored 11 points in an NCAA Tournament win over Texas A&M. (Photo by Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
Michigan Wolverines basketball guard L.J. Cason scored 11 points in an NCAA Tournament win over Texas A&M. (Photo by Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)

Much of the year, Michigan basketball hasn’t consistently featured guards who could break defenses down and make things tough on opposing defenses. Junior Tre Donaldson had his moments, Roddy Gayle Jr., too, but when Big Ten play arrived, it was far too inconsistent. 

RELATED: The 3-2-1: Michigan QB Bryce Underwood’s start, Owen Freeman update, more 

Freshman L.J. Cason was a pleasant surprise early, but it got tougher for him when the competition got better. Months later, though, he’s recaptured the mojo that had everyone talking in November, and Michigan is moving on to the Sweet 16 as a result. His 11 points and 3 assists in 20 minutes sparked the Wolverines and started a run that Gayle finished in a 91-79 win over Texas A&M Saturday.  

“We subbed in L.J. Cason, and he broke the defense down,” Michigan coach Dusty May said when asked what got them going. “He got downhill, got in the paint. Our decision making was really sound … 

“I thought L.J. ignited this run. We were flat. I didn’t realize until I listened to Coach [Buzz] Williams’ press conference that we played five games in nine days. I started thinking, ‘man — do we have enough in the tank?’ So, we wanted to get to our bench. We trust those guys. We know how good they are. When they don’t play, we’re going with somebody that’s probably a little bit older and done it before.”

But Cason was the spark, and his ability to get in the paint and beat players off the dribble was big in wins over UC-San Diego and Texas A&M both. Some freshmen are just minute-eaters when they’re on the floor, but they needed more from Cason. He was happy to oblige. 

“Yeah, most definitely. Every time I check in, the staff, including Coach May, they encourage me and tell me to be [aggressive] every time I check in,” Cason said. “I feel like that’s what I did, and that’s how it came out.

“… It feels great to come straight in a game and have an impact game as a freshman. I’m doing whatever the team needs — scoring, passing, defending. It feels great either way.”

Cason figures to be a bigger part of the rotation as long as Michigan continues to play, and a huge factor next year as a sophomore. Initially committed to May at Florida Atlantic, he stuck with his coach when he moved up to Ann Arbor despite interest from several other schools.

Many SEC schools offered after May left FAU, the Michigan coach noted, but his loyalty brought him to U-M. May saw “what a lot of coaches saw” in the young talent, he added, but he wouldn’t take credit for discovering him. 

“My staff saw him a lot, and they loved him,” May recalled. “I saw him in AAU and l liked him, but I wasn’t in love with him … they had a loaded team. He was coming off the bench and did what he could to win, so we recruited him. 

“When I went and watched him with his high school team, he had a bigger role. Credit to the staff — they saw, believed in it, never wavered. When I saw him with his high school team, I said, ‘okay — this kid has something special to him.’ I thought he could play anywhere in the country. Fortunately, he believed in us.”

He stayed the course, too, even when he wasn’t getting as much playing time earlier in the year. He had some rough weeks in practice and got lost at times defensively — that still happens occasionally — but he proved too good to keep off the court. His perseverance paid off, both for him and Michigan.

“I knew I’d make a great fit,” he said. “I just wanted to be part of a winning team whether I played or not. I don’t really care what part of it.”

Now, though, he’s a significant contributor, and his Michigan future seems bright. 

You may also like