Michigan basketball loses another starter to the transfer portal

The mass exodus from the Michigan men’s basketball program continued Tuesday as two more Wolverines are entering the transfer portal in wake of the team’s 8-24 season and Juwan Howard’s firing.

This time, it’s a starter in sophomore center Tarris Reed Jr., who made his announcement in an Instagram post, and a reserve in sophomore forward Youssef Khayat.

In a parting message, Reed thanked the program, the university, his teammates and the Michigan community for the support during his two years in Ann Arbor. He expressed his gratitude to Howard for his “relentless dedication to my development, both on and off the court.”

“After much prayer and contemplation, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal,” Reed wrote. “This choice has not been easy, but it’s a necessary step toward my growth. Ecclesiastes 7:8 — “Better is the ending than the beginning” — resonates with me, reminding me that the end of one chapter marks the beginning of a new journey.”

As the lone true center on the roster, Reed averaged nine points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per game, while shooting 51.9% from the field and 58.6% from the free-throw line. The 6-foot-10 big man was one of two Wolverines to appear in all 32 games, with 31 starts.

Reed saw his playing time more than double from his freshman year as he filled the void left behind by Hunter Dickinson, who transferred to Kansas last offseason. Reed’s first season as a full-time starter was up and down. He struggled at times with turnovers and wasn’t the same defensive force as when he came off the bench as a freshman, but he recorded three double-doubles and had one 20-point game.

Hours after Reed announced his decision, which was confirmed by a program spokesperson, Khayat also reportedly planned to enter the transfer portal and seek a new opportunity elsewhere.

Khayat played for the Limoges CSP U21 program in France before he was a late addition to Michigan's 2022 recruiting class. The 6-foot-9 Lebanon native was a standout in the European youth league and was viewed as a promising young talent, but he played sparingly and battled injuries during his two years in Ann Arbor.

Khayat appeared in 17 games and averaged 5.8 minutes per contest as a sophomore this season. For his career, he played in 26 games, with one start, and tallied 36 points and 24 rebounds in 154 total minutes.

Reed, a former top-40 recruit, and Khayat are the third and fourth Wolverines heading into the transfer portal since it opened on Monday, joining guards Dug McDaniel and George Washington III. Michigan also lost a commitment from Khani Rooths, who was the program's top recruit in its 2024 class, on Monday.

jhawkins@detroitnews.com

@jamesbhawkins