Why did Tarris Reed transfer from Michigan to UConn? What to know of Huskies star

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Why did Tarris Reed transfer from Michigan to UConn? What to know of Huskies star

Why did Tarris Reed transfer from Michigan to UConn? What to know of Huskies star

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Mon, Apr 6, 2026 ·

4 min read

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UConn star Tarris Reed Jr. will end his college career on Monday, April 6, against the team with whom it first began.

The senior center started his career at Michigan, where he played two seasons before transferring to Connecticut in 2024. His breakout this season as a full-time starter has been well-documented and is a huge reason for the Huskies' NCAA Tournament run .

REQUIRED READING: Dan Hurley called his shot: Tarris Reed Jr. would be X-factor for UConn Final Four run

The 6-foot-11, 265-pound interior presence is averaging 14.8 points with 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game this season on 61.7% shooting, although his game has stepped up a notch in March Madness. Reed is averaging 20.8 points with 13 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament and has a strong case for being the best overall player in the 68-team field so far.

Despite Reed leaving the program, Michigan still boasts one of the best frontcourts in college basketball, led by a trio of first-year transfers in Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr.

Why did Reed leave Michigan? Here's what to know of his transfer after the 2023-24 season:

UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
(Kyle Ross, Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)

UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts with guard Malachi Smith (0) in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
(Kyle Ross, Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)

UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts with UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts after defeating the UCLA Bruins in a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
(Amber Searls, Amber Searls-Imagn Images)

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 20: Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies reacts against the Furman Paladins during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies reacts against the Furman Paladins during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 22: UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 22: UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts after Braylon Mullins #24 of the UConn Huskies shot during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 22: UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies looks on during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies reacts during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Why did Tarris Reed transfer from Michigan to UConn?

Reed entered the transfer portal shortly after the 2023-24 season, which was the last campaign under former coach Juwan Howard at Michigan.

It wasn't a surprise to see Reed's name in the transfer portal, especially after Michigan went 8-24 in his first full season as a collegiate starter and considering the coach who recruited him to Ann Arbor, Michigan, was fired.

"I saw Coach Juwan got fired. Definitely, I feel like it was like a no-brainer in terms of the portal," Reed said April 5 before the national championship. "I hung around Michigan for a couple of weeks, and then they announced (Dusty May) was supposed to be the coach. I talked to him multiple times. I like Coach May, and he was just being super up front with who he was bringing in, who's looking at recruiting-wise.

"So, feel like just him being honest with me, and I'm being honest with him, it was the right way. So, it was no bad blood."

UConn was also coming off back-to-back national championships, and needed a center to replace Donovan Clingan, who went No. 7 overall to Portland in the 2024 NBA Draft. Reed was an obvious fit for UConn, as he was rated a top-100 transfer portal recruit and was a former top-35 ranked prospect out of high school.

"I chose UConn for its winning culture, commitment to player development and coaching style," Reed told On3 upon committing in 2024. "Coach Hurley's tough coaching style is known for pushing players into uncomfortable situations, making the uncomfortable seem comfortable. UConn provides the ideal setting and coaching for me to maximize my potential both on and off the court."

Reed had a small role as a true freshman at Michigan in 2022-23 playing behind Hunter Dickinson. He averaged 3.4 points with 3.9 rebounds per game before becoming the full-time starter as a sophomore, raising his per-game totals to nine points with 7.2 rebounds a game.

Reed started one game last season at UConn, although he averaged 19.9 points per game. His game rose to a new level in 2025-26, which Michigan State coach Tom Izzo noticed while preparing for MSU's loss to UConn in the Sweet 16.

"His game has taken a monstrous jump," Izzo said of the former Michigan State rival. "And with that size, that's gonna be something. … Reed has gotten better and better and better. And he's been a monster."

Tarris Reed on playing Michigan, his former school

Reed expects the national championship game against Michigan, his former team, to be heated, as any national title match would be.

"I know a couple guys on the team," Reed said, "but I feel like at the end of the day it's the game for the national championship game, so I feel like they're going to be coming at my neck, we're going to be coming at their neck, so it's going to be a great, fun bloodbath and just a competitive game."

Only three players remain at Michigan from Reed's time there — Nimari Burnett, Will Tschetter and walk-on Harrison Hochberg. Burnett and Reed became close friends as Wolverines teammates and said they caught up at a Final Four fan event.

"Seeing that big smile on his face that he always carries, and having a chance to play against him knowing the story that we had two years ago is amazing," Burnett told reporters on April 5.

Tarris Reed stats

Here are Reed's year-by-year, per-game averages in college basketball:

2022-23 (Michigan):3.4 points with 3.9 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game on 51.7% shooting
2023-24 (Michigan):9.0 points with 7.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game on 51.9% shooting
2024-25 (UConn):9.6 points with 7.3 rebounds with 1.0 assists per game on 67% shooting
2025-26 (UConn):14.8 points with 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on 61.7% shooting

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why did Tarris Reed transfer from Michigan to UConn? What to know

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Why did Tarris Reed transfer from Michigan to UConn? What to know of Huskies star

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Why did Tarris Reed transfer from Michigan to UConn?

Tarris Reed on playing Michigan, his former school

Tarris Reed stats