Former Tennessee forward J.P. Estrella makes a decision on if he’s staying at Michigan

The ex-Vol had the chance to leave Ann Arbor thanks to Dusty May’s departure for the NBA.

Craig Smith — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Tennessee forward J.P. Estrella (13) looks to the basket while guarded by Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) during a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tennessee lost a number of players in the transfer portal this past cycle, and one of the most notable departures was forward J.P. Estrella.

Estrella prescribed to the old “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” mantra back in April, as he ended up choosing the Michigan Wolverines out of the transfer portal. As Vol fans painfully recall, Michigan put a painful 96-52 beatdown on Tennessee in the Elite Eight a few months ago, Tennessee’s third defeat while being one win from that first elusive Final Four.

However, some antennae went up after then-Michigan head coach Dusty May decided to leave Michigan for the NBA. With May off to coach the Dallas Mavericks, the door opened up for Estrella and the rest of the players on the Michigan roster to re-enter the transfer portal, which is permitted for a defined period after a coach leaves.

It appears as though Estrella will be going nowhere. Per ESPN insider Pete Thamel, Estrella is sticking with the Wolverines despite the coaching change.

Former Tennessee forward J.P. Estrella sticking with Michigan Wolverines despite coaching change

“Michigan transfer big-man J.P. Estrella is going to remain with the Wolverines, he told ESPN, as he quickly bonded with interim coach Mike Boynton and his teammates after arriving on campus nearly two weeks ago,” Thamel wrote.

It was always a long shot (if even that) that Estrella would find a way to come back to Knoxville, even if he had decided to leave Michigan. With the mass departures from Tennessee’s roster that also included Amari Evans, Vernon Carey, Bishop Boswell, Cade Phillips, and others, it was clear that Rick Barnes was looking to overhaul his roster.

With headliners Juke Harris, Terrence Hill, Jr., and Jalen Haralson in the fold, along with several other new faces in town to fill their shoes, the hope of a brighter ending to the Vols’ 2026-27 season is alive and well.

Related Articles