Nimari Burnett Guides Michigan to First Final Four in Eight Years

A winding road to Ann Arbor

Born in Chicago, Burnett arrived at Texas Tech in 2019 as the program’s highest‑ranked recruit. After two seasons he entered the transfer portal, spent a year with Alabama and suffered a torn ACL that sidelined him for the 2021‑22 campaign. He returned to the Crimson Tide in 2022, then moved to Michigan in 2023.

The stabilizer in May’s rebuild

Coach Dusty May has called Burnett “a stabilizer.” The senior guard started every game of the 2023‑24 season, posting 8.2 points and 2.6 assists while anchoring the backcourt. His steady play helped the Wolverines upset conference rivals and win the Big Ten title.

Chicago homecoming and a historic run

On March 29, a crowd of family and friends gathered in Burnett’s hometown as Michigan clinched its first Final Four berth since 2018. The moment marked the culmination of a three‑year odyssey that took him from Texas to Alabama and finally to a championship‑contending Michigan team.

What lies ahead

With the Final Four ahead, Burnett says the focus is on “one game at a time.” If the Wolverines advance, he will have capped a collegiate career that began with a top‑20 recruit ranking and ended on the sport’s biggest stage.