Dusty May shares first impressions of every player who transferred to Michigan this offseason

Dusty May has brought in six transfers this offseason: Vlad Goldin, Sam Walters, Roddy Gayle Jr., Tre Donaldson, Danny Wolf and Rubin Jones. With summer workouts underway, May has solidified his early impressions of what each transfer brings to Ann Arbor.

Vlad Goldin: Committed to the “process”

Unlike the other transfers, May has much more than just a first impression of Goldin. Having played under May for the past three years at Florida Atlantic, May is clear on what Goldin brings.

“More than anything, he brings a work ethic and a desire to improve,” May told Michigan Insider. “He’s a guy who likes the overused word ‘process.’ … He just loves to compete and (he brings) a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.”

The willingness to do whatever it takes is something Michigan desperately needs after the worst season in program history.

Roddy Gayle Jr.: The shot is there, but the assertiveness is still missing

Gayle excels in several aspects of his game. Although his 28.2 percent three-point percentage last season might not suggest it, his jump shot is a huge advantage in May’s eyes. One of the reasons for that low percentage was the team around him, and that percentage should increase with more space at Michigan.

However, there is clearly potential for growth in one area.

“We want him to be a little more assertive, a little more physical, a little more aggressive,” May said. “But when you watch him play basketball, you can see that he has great shooting technique and his shots are really well balanced.”

As Gayle’s assertiveness grows, his influence on the court may also grow.

Rubin Jones: Proceed with caution

Jones suffered a torn hamstring in January and re-injured it in his first game three weeks later. Although he has recovered from that injury, May continues to be cautious with him.

“We’ve actually been very cautious,” May said. “He had a torn hamstring last year, he’s medically cleared, but we’re slowly bringing him back because we need him full force in December, January and February. Rubin has such a high IQ and such a good foundation that we know we don’t need to rush him now.”

Michigan was plagued by injuries last year, which had a detrimental effect on its bench depth, and with this painstaking approach during the offseason, the Wolverines could reap the rewards during Big Ten play.

Tre Donaldson: Knows how to win

Last season, Auburn went 27-8 and earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It’s safe to say Donaldson is used to winning, and for a Michigan team that has struggled the past two seasons, that’s an important tool.

“He’s been a great teammate and another guy that’s brought the different groups together and organized some activities for the guys, so he’s a winner,” May said. “He’s won a lot of basketball games and we went after him early and aggressively … because we believe he can really impact the win.”

Creating a winning culture has a direct impact on Michigan’s future success, and Donaldson is ready to do just that.

Sam Walters: Increasing efficiency and size

Walters won’t get the most minutes, having only played 12.3 minutes per game last year, but he’s been playing his minutes and that’s something he brings to the Wolverines.

“Sam is a guy who could score 18 points and hold the ball for nine seconds,” May said. “…Guys like Sam are rare and they’re unique because they not only have to hold the ball in their hands, but they’re very efficient.”

Walters made 42.4% of his shots from the field and 39.4% of his three-pointers last season, showing he can be efficient. Combined with his 6’10” size, he’s a great asset as a substitute.

Danny Wolf: Not a typical 2.13 meter tall man

The Wolverines have something extremely rare: two 7-foot-4 players who can share time on the court. Although Goldin is expected to play more minutes than Wolf, that doesn’t mean Wolf won’t be important to Michigan’s offense. After all, he has a unique and valuable skill set.

“He’s a guard with the body of a 7-foot-4 player,” May said. “So Danny is going to be a guy that initiates a lot of our offense. His decisions are going to impact what the other four guys do in terms of movement and spacing.”

Unlike Goldin, who is more of a traditional center, Wolf’s strengths are impressive shooting and playmaking. With his size and versatile repertoire, Wolf can be very impactful.