Yale Athletics

Two years in New Haven, one in Ann Arbor, and onto the next: former Bulldog Danny Wolf is headed to the NBA Draft.

After a successful season playing for the Michigan Wolverines with a Big Ten tournament title, a March Madness run to the Sweet Sixteen and an impressive stats sheet earning him All-Big Ten second team honors, Wolf announced in an Instagram post on April 16 his intent to declare in the draft, forgoing the remainder of his college eligibility.  

“I’m excited to announce that I’ll be declaring for the 2025 NBA draft,” he said in the post. He added that his time at Yale was monumental to his success: “To Coach Jones and the entire Yale staff — you believed in me when not many did. You helped shape my game and gave me a platform to grow over two unforgettable years. I’m better for it, and I’m thankful beyond words.” 

To many in the Bulldog nation, Wolf’s declaration for the draft comes as no surprise. During his time in New Haven, Wolf boasted a spectacular record. 

When asked about whether or not he saw a pro future for Wolf during the recruitment process all those years ago, Yale men’s basketball head coach James Jones told the News, “100 percent. When I recruited him, his size and skillset were so unique. I knew then he could go far.” He told the News he predicts Wolf will be drafted in the top 15 to 20 picks. 

During the 2022–23 season as a first year, Wolf carved out a role off the bench, appearing in 21 games and averaging 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest. He showed flashes of promise, including an eight-point performance in a pivotal win at Brown that clinched a share of the Ivy League regular season title. 

He logged valuable postseason minutes, as well. He contributed points on the scoreboard in the NIT matchup at Vanderbilt and played 17 total minutes in the Ivy League Tournament. His impact earned him the team’s John C. Cobb Award, recognizing him as the rookie of the year. 

During his sophomore year, Wolf really began to shine. 

Establishing himself as one of the Ivy League’s most dominant forces, Wolf was unanimously voted First Team All-Ivy and a NABC District 13 First Team honoree. He led the league in rebounding with 9.7 boards per game, ranked second with 43 blocked shots, and finished 10th in scoring at 14.1 points per game. His versatility was on full display — he was second on the team with 76 assists and knocked down 29 three-pointers. 

“We were able to let him be himself,” Jones told the News about Wolf’s time with the team. He was “able to handle the ball on the perimeter and pass and shoot from the arc. His ability to pass is elite, and his ability to put the ball on the floor and handle it is elite as well, especially for a man his size.” 

Wolf, however, shined brightest in the postseason, earning Most Outstanding Player honors at the Ivy League Tournament after powering Yale to a championship with back-to-back double-doubles, including a 19-point, 10-rebound performance in the semifinal win over Cornell. He then helped the team make an impressive upset over Auburn in the first round of the NCAA March Madness tournament.

A five-time Ivy League Player of the Week, he, in fact, recorded 14 double-doubles on the year, was named a CSC Academic All-District selection, and took home the Dutch Arnold Award as Yale’s most valuable player. 

This success was partly due to what Jones described as his “tremendous” work ethic.

“No one works harder or puts more time in the gym than Danny does,” Jones told the News. “He’s a savant, a student of the game. He watches film relentlessly. He’s the first one to get in the gym and the last one to leave.”

Even off the court, Wolf’s Yale teammates described him as “an awesome person.”

“It’s been a joy to see his years of hard work begin to come to fruition,” current captain Teo Rice ’25 told the News. “Not many people who spend time in the Ivy League become first-round draft picks, so our whole community will continue to cheer Danny on in his first year in the NBA.”

Besides his time playing in the NCAA, Wolf possesses an international reputation, highlighting his desire to continue bettering his game. At the 2023 FIBA U20 European Championship, Wolf played for Team Israel, leading the squad to secure a silver medal. 

Looking forward to the Draft, predictions are flying. ESPN has projected Wolf as the 19th overall pick. His size, standing at over 7 feet tall, and his versatility on the court, transitioning between power forward, point guard and center positions — all while managing playmaking responsibilities — would make him a significant addition to any NBA roster. 

“He’s got guard skills as a 7-footer,” Jones said. On what team Wolf is drafted to, Jones didn’t make any preference on the jersey color or mascot, rather that “I hope he goes to a place that understands his unique skillset.”

The NBA draft combine will occur from May 11-18 in Chicago, and the draft will occur in New York on June 25 and 26.