Trey McKenney Reportedly Will Return to Michigan After Winning 2026 NCAA Title

Michigan guard Trey McKenney will reportedly return to Ann Arbor after capping off his freshman college season with a national championship.

McKenney signed a new deal with Michigan ahead of his sophomore season, ESPN's Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello reported Friday.

McKenney averaged 9.9 points and 2.8 rebounds while coming off the bench in all 40 games of Michigan's run to the NCAA Tournament title.

He capped off his season by contributing nine points and eight rebounds to the Wolverines' 69-63 championship game victory over UConn on April 6.

McKenney originally signed with the Wolverines as a four-star prospect in November 2024 after also considering offers from USC and Georgetown.

He has expressed a desire to keep playing at Michigan since March, when he told the Detroit Free Press' Tony Garcia ahead of the Elite Eight he was "definitely planning on coming back next year."

"We're going to have a really talented team next year, I came in with a role this year and I think my role would definitely expand next year, so I'm definitely looking forward to coming back," McKenney said, per Garcia.

Michigan head coach Dusty May similarly agreed that McKenney is destined for a bigger role next season.

May told reporters ahead of the Elite Eight that he didn't want to put a ceiling on McKenney but felt he was "going to be one of the best guards in the Big Ten" (h/t TheWolverine.com's Clayton Sayfie).

"If you're one of the best guards in the Big Ten, you're going to be one of the best guards in the country next year," May said, per Sayfie. "We're excited because, first and foremost, of how hard he'll work and how much time he puts into it."

The departure of Nimari Burnett, who is out of college eligibility and entering the draft, could open up a spot in the starting lineup for McKenney.

This would put him in the backcourt alongside point guard Elliot Cadeau, who told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Thursday he will return to the Wolverines for his senior season.

That pairing will give Michigan a core to build around as May prepares to lose three other starters in potentially the draft-bound Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara.