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The transfer from Tennessee is joining the Wolverines for the 2026-27 season. J.P. Estrella told Brian Boesch on Defend the Block he first connected with head coach Dusty May when he entered the portal. The 6-foot-11 power forward averaged 10 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season for the Volunteers. Here’s more of what he had to say about his decision to go with Michigan.
On his recruitment process
While Estrella said he first “hopped on the Zoom” with Dusty May, be also talked with all the coaches during his transition to Michigan, which includes new head coach Mike Boynton Jr. Estrella said he knew almost right away he wanted to be in Ann Arbor. He also said Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. talked with him and told him why Michigan would be a good fit for him.
On the decision to stay even after May left
Estrella spent a lot of time talking with everyone to get a good feel for the team without May. He said Boynton called him and talked with him several times about how the program will stay the same. Estrella also spent time talking with all the players to make sure they felt comfortable with the situation.
On how he connects with the team beyond basketball
Estrella said Boynton is really intentional about getting to know the players and what they’re doing. Boynton reached out over the Fourth of July holiday to ask what Estrella was up to and routinely asks about his life. For Estrella, that’s something he hasn’t had before. “It means a lot to me to have a head coach really talk to me a lot and really care about what I’m doing. Not just on the court, but off the court.”
On what he put on tape last year
If you want something to look out for, Estrella said his paint scoring is what he’s most pleased with from last season. He said his scoring is something he’s been proud of for a while, but he’s also aware of his rebounding abilities. He’s looking forward to being able to showcase that at Michigan this season.
On prioritizing the team over individual stats
First and foremost, Estrella wants to win games. He said focusing on that makes it easier to focus on the team. He is coming from a team that had a lot of guys working together, and he expects that to continue next year.
On his usage at Michigan
Estrella said he could see himself having a better season with more time on the court. He said he didn’t have a huge opportunity minutes-wise last season, but he thinks this year could be a “big step.” He’s focusing on making sure his body stays healthy and that he’s ready to go for the long season.
“Michigan’s been doing an amazing job already with me just making sure I’m healthy, really making sure my body’s taken care of and not overdoing it and making sure that feels good and it feels great right now, which I feel like is going to help me a ton throughout this season,” Estrella said.
On his three-point shot
One thing that’s unique to Estrella’s time at Michigan is his work on his three-point shot. He talked about his confidence, but now he’s got the backing of the coaching staff. “I feel like I’m super excited to showcase that part of my game and showcase a couple of parts of my game that I haven’t been able to showcase yet,” he said.
On playing with Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney
While Estrella said he and the others are still working on playing with each other, he knows they have a lot going for them in the upcoming season. He was playing with Elliot Cadeau and found out what he is considering when trying to set guys up for plays. Learning to play with each other is what they’re emphasizing right now.
