The national champion is testing the professional waters. Michigan Wolverines junior point guard Elliot Cadeau officially declared for the 2026 NBA Draft on Saturday, April 25. He is keeping his collegiate eligibility intact. The move follows a massive elevation in his national profile after leading Michigan to a historic 37-3 season and snapping a 37-year championship drought.
Drew Gross of WME Basketball confirmed the move. Gross is Cadeau’s agent. According to ESPN, Gross verified the formal announcement regarding Cadeau maintaining his college eligibility. The point guard plans to participate in the NBA Draft Combine scheduled for May 10-17. He wants direct feedback from professional scouts before making a final decision. Most draft boards project him as a mid-to-late second-round pick. Scouts cite his 6-foot-1 frame and inconsistent outside shooting as primary concerns.
He started all 40 games for the Wolverines this season. His season averages sat at 10.5 points, 5.9 assists, and 2.7 rebounds. Cadeau secured Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors after a massive 19-point performance against UConn to win Michigan’s first national title since 1989. Now he wants to find out exactly what NBA executives think of his game.
Cadeau joins a crowded field. Fellow collegiate players Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara have also entered the draft pool alongside Cadeau. Mara is expected to stay in the draft definitively. Cadeau’s entry acts more as a strategic fact-finding mission. He has the NCAA’s 10-day withdrawal window to safely return to Ann Arbor. Before the championship run, scouts viewed Cadeau largely as an undrafted prospect who would silently return for his senior year. The title changed everything. He capitalized on his peak momentum.