Ann Arbor — There are several players, including one returner and three newcomers, on Michigan basketball’s retooled roster who are on the mend.
Sophomore guard L.J. Cason and incoming freshman forward Lincoln Cosby are recovering from torn ACLs. Forward Jalen Reed, a transfer from LSU, is working his way back from Achilles surgery.
Another incoming freshman, Danish big man Marcus Moller, is receiving treatment after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in January.
While the start of the 2026-27 season is still a ways away, coach Dusty May provided some updates on the foursome Wednesday, a day after the program announced the signings of the last two members of its six-man freshman class and a transfer group that includes Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam, Tennessee forward J.P. Estrella and Reed.
Cason and Cosby are expected to be rehabbing by the time next season tips off in November. And considering the typical recovery timeline from an ACL tear ranges anywhere from nine to 12 months, both plan to redshirt.
Cason, who tore his right ACL in the Feb. 27 win at Illinois, delayed his surgery until after Michigan’s run to the national title and had his procedure done on April 9. Cosby suffered his season-ending ACL injury five games into his stint at Florida powerhouse Montverde Academy.
“We’re going to take it very, very slow with those guys who have major injuries,” May said. “L.J. has been great. Obviously, there’s been some tough days with his recovery and pain and things like that.”
Cosby was in the 2027 class before he reclassified into 2026. Getting to practice and work out with college players, May said, will speed up his growth and development when he’s able to do so.
Like Cason and Cosby, Reed’s injury has sidelined him for an extensive period. He tore his left Achilles tendon in the second half of LSU’s game against Drake on Nov. 28, which happened almost a year after he tore his right ACL. While a torn Achilles tendon usually takes four to six months to heal, a full recovery and return to a high-demand sport like basketball typically takes six months to a year.
“We're going to be very patient with him and his timetable to make sure he's back ready to go,” May said of Reed. “We also have a lot of faith in our sports science department and Matt (Aldred, strength and conditioning coach) and Chris (Williams, athletic trainer) to invest the time and the professional expertise that they have to get him back (to full health).”
Moller’s 2025-26 season with Unicaja Malaga in Spain ended abruptly after his cancer diagnosis in late January. At that time, the club announced Moller was taking a hiatus from basketball and returned home to Denmark for cancer treatment.
When Michigan shared the news of Moller’s diagnosis, the program released a statement that read “we truly look forward to having Marcus with us in Ann Arbor this summer.” On Wednesday, May made it sound like that remains the case.
“He has one more procedure before he’s out of the weeds,” May said. “He actually went back to his club in Spain to clean out his apartment and get personal things and was able to do some workouts. He’s doing well. All things considered, he’s doing well.”
One thing worth monitoring is the possibility of the NCAA passing new age-based eligibility rules. The model, if adopted, would allow athletes to compete for five seasons in Division I, starting immediately after their high school graduation or 19th birthday, whichever comes first.
The potential rule change wouldn’t retroactively apply to athletes who competed in the 2025-26 academic year and are out of eligibility. It would also essentially eliminate redshirt seasons, like the ones Cason and Cosby plan on taking.
“That changes the dynamics,” May said. “Do you use them in February? You just have to make sure they’re ready to go.”
Cason told The News during the NCAA Tournament he made the decision to redshirt because of the timing of his late-season injury and the fact he’d be looking at a midseason return next year at the earliest, which would cost him a season of eligibility. On top of that, he wanted to make sure he’d be fully healthy and back to himself without having to worry about rushing back.
If the NCAA’s proposed “five-in-five” eligibility model is implemented, Cason could suit up at some point next season and still have two seasons available after the 2026-27 campaign. But that’s a bridge May and the Wolverines will cross whenever the time comes.
“Is the five going to be a hard-line five?” May said. “I think that over the course of time, history has proven that when you bring in a good attorney, everything is flexible. Does a five (seasons) in six (-year window) happen if a guy has a couple of injuries?
“Anything that’s that subjective, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it yet. There are too many decisions to be made today to worry about decisions that have to be made 10 months from now or whatever the case.”
jhawkins@detroitnews.com
@jamesbhawkins
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Dusty May updates status of L.J. Cason, Marcus Moller, Jalen Reed
