March Madness star big man is sending a message the Spurs can’t ignore

The NCAA tournament is the talk of the town in the basketball world. It’s the perfect time for NBA draft prospects to make names for themselves, and that’s exactly what Michigan’s Aday Mara is doing. The San Antonio Spurs, who are set to have a first-round pick this June, should be taking notice of Mara. He’s the type of prospect who could help them achieve dynasty status.

Aday Mara is taking the NCAA by storm

Mara, a 7’3” center, has had a breakout junior campaign for the Wolverines this season. After averaging 6.4 points in 13.1 minutes at UCLA in 2024-25, he transferred to Ann Arbor, which has turned out to be a genius decision.

This year, Mara has averaged 12.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.7 blocks while shooting 67.4% from the floor. He was an integral part of Michigan’s dominant 29-2 regular season, and he’s been even better so far in March Madness.

Against Howard in the first round, Mara posted 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three blocks on 8/10 shooting. In the second round, he totaled 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, and four blocks on 7/12 from the field versus Saint Louis. He’s been arguably the best player on a Michigan squad loaded with pro talent.

Mara has two special traits: his defense and his passing. The Spaniard is one of the most impactful defenders in college hoops, and it all starts with his rim protection. He’s an insurmountable presence in the paint—his towering frame and reach make it beyond difficult to score over him. His already impressive 2.7 block-per-game average doesn’t even tell the full story.

The big fella has standout passing vision, and Dusty May loves employing him as a hub offensively. He finds cutters and shooters with ease out of the post, using his size to throw his dimes above his defenders’ heads. He’s also comfortable in high-low actions, connecting on alley-oops with Michigan’s other frontcourt stars, Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr.

Mara is also a cheat code interior scorer. He has a silky touch and can flip in hook shots over anyone in front of him. The Big Ten DPOY sometimes struggles to be assertive and physical, and overcoming those primarily mental barriers would make him a two-way force to be reckoned with.

Mara should be high on the San Antonio Spurs' draft board

San Antonio should be targeting prospects who can make a winning impact from day one. Aday Mara looks like a guy who fits that bill. He’s been at the center (pun partially intended) of an incredibly successful Michigan odyssey, and his strongest traits should translate cleanly to the next level.

Think about everything that has made Luke Kornet so awesome for the Spurs this year. Mara could do all of that and more. Yes, that even includes sharing the court with Victor Wembanyama. Imagine two 7’3”+ dudes out there just cooking opponents. It feels like something out of 2K, but it could be a reality for the Silver and Black.

It’s true that center isn’t really a position of need for San Antonio, but truthfully, they’re pretty stacked across the board. With that in mind, they should just add whoever they think the best player available is, regardless of position. And, right now, Aday Mara is playing like one of the top players in the entire class.