Muhammad Ali Abdur Rahkman

Early life

Abdur-Rahkman was born on September 1, 1994 in Allentown, Pennsylvania to Dawud and Tammy Abdur-Rahkman. He has a sister, Nailah, and a brother, Shahad. Dawud is an assistant men's basketball coach at Muhlenberg College and Shahad played college basketball at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. Abdur-Rahkman was a four-time PIAA Class AAA All-State selection—first team (2013, 2014), second team (2011, 2012)—for Allentown Central Catholic High School.

Abdur-Rahkman received over 30 scholarship offers, but mostly from second tier programs. As a result, he waited until the late signing period of his senior season in hopes of getting the attention of a major program. Former college basketball coach Dave Rooney had been a friend of John Beilein when the two were both young coaches and recommended that Beilein consider Rahkman. In addition to his scholarship offers, Abdur-Rahkman also had serious interest from Boston College, Pitt and Penn State and was expected to land at one of those schools had Michigan not made him an offer.

College career

The 2013–14 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team had been outright champions of 2013–14 Big Ten Conference and reached the elite eight round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, but lost three players to the 2014 NBA draft: Nik Stauskas, Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III.

Freshman season

Abdur-Rahkman matriculated to the University of Michigan where he became roommates with Aubrey Dawkins. He made his NCAA debut for Michigan against Hillsdale on November 15 along with 6 other true freshmen and a redshirt freshman, but was held scoreless. He scored his first points on December 9 in a loss to Eastern Michigan. On January 17, 2015 in his first career start (in place of Spike Albrecht), Abdur-Rahkman made the three point shot that provided the margin of victory against Northwestern. On January 27 against Nebraska, Abdur Rahkman moved into the starting lineup when Derrick Walton went down with an injury. Walton remained sidelined the rest of the season. On February 1, Abdur Rahkman posted a career-high 18 points in the rivalry game against Michigan State, but Michigan lost in overtime. On March 12, Abdur-Rahkman tallied 15 points and a career-high 8 rebounds against Illinois in the second round of the 2015 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament to help Michigan extend its streak of opening round wins in the tournament to 9.

Sophomore season

On January 7, 2016, Abdur-Rahkman scored a career-high 25 points against Purdue. On January 12 with leading scorer Caris LeVert sidelined, Abdur-Rahkman started as Michigan defeated (#3/#3) Maryland 70–67. Abdur Rahkman posted a game-high 4 assists. On February 10, Michigan defeated Minnesota behind a perfect shooting night from Abdur-Rakman (5-for-5 from the field and 3-for-3 from the line) for 16 points. In the February 21, rematch against (#5/6) Maryland, Michigan lost 82–86, despite a 16 points, 9 assists and 3 steals from Abdur-Rahkman. On March 16 in the First Four round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, Michigan defeated Tulsa, 67–62, behind a team-high 16 points from Abdur-Rahkman, his fifth consecutive double digit performance.

Junior season

As a junior, he was a regular starter for the Wolverines. The team won the 2017 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament and reached the sweet sixteen round of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.