Michigan basketball is diligently filling out its 2026 roster, having announced its two newest additions to the recruiting class, as well as LSU transfer Jalen Reed. But there was another transfer via an SEC school who planned on joining the Wolverines, and he was the first to pledge his commitment.
On Tuesday, Michigan officially announced that it has signed former Tennessee forward JP Estrella, who played against the maize and blue in the Elite Eight. With the official announcement, head coach Dusty May shared how Estrella fits into the program as well as some background information on who he is as a person.
Now the Wolverines only await the announcement of Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam.
David and Meredith Kaplan University of Michigan basketball coach Dusty May announced Tuesday (April 28) the addition of 6-10 forward J.P. Estrella, who has signed a Big Ten Scholarship Agreement to join the Wolverines for the 2026-27 season.
In addition to U-M's six member Class of 2026, (Estrella) becomes the second transfer addition for the Maize and Blue this offseason, joining 6-10 forward Jalen Reed.
"J.P. brings size, toughness and a lot of energy to our frontcourt," said May. "He knows what it takes to win at a high level and plays the game the right way. He runs the floor, rebounds, competes on every possession and gives us a strong presence around the basket. Just as important, he's a great teammate and someone who fits exactly what we're building here."
A 6-11 forward from Scarborough, Maine, Estrella has two years of eligibility remaining after being awarded a medical redshirt following a foot injury that limited him to three games during his sophomore season at Tennessee.
Last season, Estrella appeared in 33 games with 13 starts and averaged 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per game. He scored in double figures 19 times, added three 20-point games and posted a team-best five double-doubles. Notably, Estrella's season ended against Michigan in the Elite Eight in Chicago, where he recorded seven points and seven rebounds.
He recorded a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds against North Florida, added 20 points and 10 rebounds against Vanderbilt, and had 14 points and 10 rebounds in Tennessee's NCAA Tournament win over Miami (Ohio). He also led the Volunteers with 92 offensive rebounds and shot 59.6 percent from the field.
Overall, at Tennessee, Estrella played in 61 games with 13 starts, helping the Volunteers reach three straight NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearances while compiling an 82-29 team record.
Michigan is coming off a historic 2025-26 season in which the Wolverines won the Big Ten regular-season title by four games, made a memorable postseason run and finished by capturing the national championship.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan basketball signs Tennessee transfer JP Estrella