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Roddy Gayle Jr. the hero for Michigan, jokes about beating 'double agent allegations'

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•03/22/25•

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Roddy Gayle Jr.
Michigan Wolverines basketball guard Roddy Gayle Jr. scored 27 points in a win over Texas A&M in Denver. (Photo by Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

DENVER, Colo. — Michigan Wolverines basketball junior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. finished up a postgame interview and joined his teammates to celebrate in front of the family section at Ball Arena following a 91-79 win over Texas A&M to advance to the Sweet 16.

The Wolverines gravitated toward Gayle, who posted 26 points in the victory, and started chanting, “Roddy! Roddy! Roddy!”

Nobody is more happy for the Niagra Falls, N.Y., native than his teammates and coaches, and that says one whole heck of a lot.

Gayle had an up-and-down regular season but has broken out in tournament play. Maybe it’s something about playing on a neutral floor.

“Neutral floor, Evo balls … that’s me, bruh,” Gayle said with a laugh.

“I feel like I was due — due for this big moment — especially like this under the bright lights.”

Gayle was maligned by the Michigan fan base on social media, after being viewed by the Ohio State faithful as a turncoat. He transferred from OSU after two seasons in Columbus, making him a target.

“Social media has been all over the place,” Gayle said. “I feel like every comment I have, they call me a double agent for … you know … choosing Michigan after going to Ohio State.

Added Gayle, with a laugh: “I feel like I beat those allegations as of recent, so it’s just an exciting feeling to be able to put everything in the past. But once we get in this locker room, we gotta be able to put everything behind us.”

Michigan will face No. 1 overall seed Auburn Friday in Atlanta.

Michigan players and coaches didn’t lose confidence in Gayle, who was replaced by graduate guard Rubin Jones in the starting lineup back in early February. He made only 1 three-pointer from Jan. 24 to March 15 but has nailed 6 since, including banging in 4 big ones against the Aggies.

“This season has been a rollercoaster of emotions for me,” Gayle said. “I had ups and downs, and it was just something that [Michigan head] Coach [Dusty] May always taught me, how would I be able to approach it? Just the belief that he’s had throughout the season, and my teammates, [junior guard] Tre [Donaldson], [junior forward/center] Danny [Wolf], [graduate center] Vlad[islav Goldin], were always there to encourage me along the way.”

Michigan’s got more basketball to play yet this season — due in part to Gayle’s 27 points versus Texas A&M.

“So proud of Roddy Gayle,” Donaldson said. “We came in together on our recruiting visit to Michigan, so me and Roddy are probably the closest out of everybody — me, Roddy, Rubin and [freshman guard] L.J. [Cason].

“I’m so proud of him. He deserves everything he had going for him tonight, and I’m just so proud of him.”

Donaldson said he “100 percent” saw some tough moments for his friend throughout the season.

“You know it goes,” Donaldson said. “Everybody criticizes the people in our shoes, but they’ve never been in them. Just me as a friend of Roddy and as a brother of Roddy, just keeping his confidence up. It’s easy to get down on yourself, but just continue to keep in the gym, things of that nature.

“Just him continuing to work, it’s a testament to his work. He was down on himself, but he never stopped working. And that’s what you saw tonight.”

And perhaps it’ll be on display in Atlanta.

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