Former Wake Forest guard Juke Harris hasn’t announced where he’ll be playing in 2026-27, but as he goes through his options, this has become clear: It won’t be in Ann Arbor.
A person with knowledge of the discussions between Michigan basketball and Harris’ camp but not permitted to speak on the situation publicly told the Free Press that both sides have agreed it’s best to move in a different direction.
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Harris was previously perceived as the top remaining option left on the Wolverines’ board.
Juke Harris #2 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons shoots over Jacari White #6 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half at John Paul Jones Arena on March 3, 2026 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
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Harris has filed for NBA Draft early entry, but he’s maintaining his eligibility to return to the college game. If he does, the other two options are Tennessee and North Carolina and it appears the former is becoming more likely − On3’s Joe Tipton predicted Harris will sign with the Volunteers.
The NBA combine takes place in Chicago from May 10–17, then players have until May 27 to decide if they want to exit the NBA Draft, set to take place June 23-24 at Barclays Center in New York.
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A 6-foot-7, 200-pound guard with forward size, Harris was one of the nation’s elite scorers last season with the Demon Deacons, finishing No. 14 nationally at 21.7 points per game to go with 6.5 rebounds.
Harris had seven games with 28 points or more, included 17 games with at least 20 points. He became Wake Forest’s first player since 1961 to score at least 750 points in a season.
Michigan had a decent haul in the transfer portal, landing a trio of bigs: former Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam, who will join former Tennessee big man J.P. Estrella in the frontcourt and ex-LSU big Jalen Reed.
For now, the Wolverines don’t appear to have a potential replacement for Harris − U-M’s staff feels comfortable entering 2026-27 with the roster as is − but there is potential for another addition moving forward.
Feb. 11, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia; Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Juke Harris (2) shoots past Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Davi Remagen (10) in the first quarter at McCamish Pavilion.
A addition could come at wing, with Michigan needing to replace Yaxel Lendeborg, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Will Tschetter, all of whom split time at the small forward last season. There are options for the role internally − Trey McKenney or Brandon McCoy could serve as small-ball options, or Oscar Goodman or Quinn Costello could be oversized threes.
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Additionally, Ricky Liburd, who redshirted last season, could step into the spot.
In any event, as U-M works on getting back to the Final Four in Detroit in 2027 and repeating as national champions, Harris will not be wearing maize and blue.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball won’t land star transfer guard Juke Harris
