5-Star Guard Sends Michigan Basketball Message Hours Before NCAA Tournament Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Mar 20, 2025 6:39 PM ET

The Michigan Wolverines were scheduled to face coach Eric Olen's UC San Diego Tritons on Thursday night at 10 p.m. ET in what was expected to be one of the most competitive first round matchups, especially among single digit vs. double digit seeded teams.

The Wolverines' coach Dusty May built Michigan from an eight-win team to a 25-win team during his first season in Ann Arbor, and now must contend with a popular sleeper pick for springing an upset in the first round.

On Thursday, one of May's biggest future hopes sent Michigan themed message with the March Madness action firmly underway.

"2x Gatorade POY," McKenney wrote on his X account with a Michigan Wolverines themed graphic.

McKenney was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in the State of Michigan for the second straight year, another indication of the high hopes hoops analysts have for his college basketball career in Ann Arbor.

McKenney is expected to join four-star forward Winters Grady in Ann Arbor next season as part of a Class of 2025 that includes just two players at the moment.

Coach May may dip into the transfer portal yet again to acquire more talent for his Wolverines program this offseason, an approach that served him well during the 2024 offseason, his first as coach.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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