The Big Ten transfer carousel is spinning, and two former Michigan Wolverines have found a new home without even leaving the conference. Shooting guard Winters Grady and center Malick Kordel are taking their talents north, both transferring to the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Grady, a 6-foot-6 sharpshooter, made his announcement on social media after a visit to Minneapolis, even posting photos suited up in Gophers gear at the historic Williams Arena. His lone season in Ann Arbor was hampered by a recurring foot injury, limiting him to just nine appearances. Buried on a deep wing rotation featuring veterans like Nimari Burnett and Roddy Gayle Jr., Grady saw limited action, averaging 2.9 points in under six minutes per game. With a logjam of talent returning and arriving at the two-guard spot for Michigan, the move to Minnesota offers a clearer path to playing time for the promising shooter.
Joining him is 7-foot-2 freshman center Malick Kordel, a raw but intriguing prospect from Germany with a unique handball background. Kordel moved quickly after entering the portal, deciding on Minnesota just eight days later. His freshman year was a developmental one, seeing action mostly in late-game situations, where he showed flashes of his potential. For a Minnesota team looking to build size and depth in the post, Kordel represents a high-upside project who can grow within their system.
This double transfer is a significant pickup for a Minnesota program coming off a 15-18 season. Head coach Ben Johnson adds a skilled perimeter threat in Grady and a massive developmental big man in Kordel, addressing key roster needs as he looks to climb the competitive Big Ten ladder. For Michigan, it's a reminder of the constant roster evolution in modern college basketball, where the transfer portal giveth and taketh away.
