Trey to Tre: Good Things Come in 3's for Wolverine Basketball with Burke, now Donaldson

New point guard played for Heisman winner Charlie Ward in high school, was recruited by Harbaugh in football, but chose basketball because his 'passion' is hoops

Photo Courtesy of University of Michigan Photography

Wolverine junior transfer Tre Donaldson: “Trey Burke – with my name being Tre and my favorite number being 3, too – it was something I tried to connect with him.”

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Tre Donaldson began dreaming of playing for Michigan while watching All-America point guard Trey Burke lead the Wolverines to the 2013 Final Four. Now Donaldson is starting at Burke’s old position and wearing his No. 3.

So, dreams do come true.

And aspirations can be fulfilled.

“In second grade – now this is a crazy story – I started following Michigan basketball,” Donaldson told The Kornacki Wolverine Report. “You’re the first person to get this story. I was in Miss Nash’s second grade class at DeSoto Trail Elementary [in Tallahassee, Fla.] and we had to write down what we wanted to be in life.

“I wrote, ‘I want to play in the NBA.’ And there was a bubble for us to write our colleges in. I’ll never forget, I had Villanova, Duke, Kentucky and Michigan. I’ll never forget it! That’s what a kid dreams of, and me being able to be here now and wear this Block M, it means so much because of the history behind it.”

Burke – the 2013 national player of the year who became an NBA first-rounder -- drained a long three-pointer with 4.2 seconds remaining to force overtime before beating Kansas in the NCAA South Regional semi-final enroute to the national championship game.

“Trey Burke – with my name being Tre and my favorite number being 3, too – it was something I tried to connect with him,” continued Donaldson. “And I connect with a lot of Michigan greats like Tim Hardaway [Jr.] and I played AAU ball with Jett Howard. Michigan basketball always found a way to connect with me in so many ways.”

Donaldson averaged 6.7 points, 3.2 assists and 2.4 rebounds while shooting .412 on three-pointers as a sophomore at Auburn last season, when averaging 19.2 minutes with 10 starts. He went to two NCAA Tournaments, helped the Tigers win the 2024 Southeastern Conference Tournament championship while also making the SEC’s academic honor roll.

However, he opted for Ann Arbor when Dusty May became Michigan’s new coach and Alabama forward Sam Walters – his friend since third grade in Orlando, Fla. – transferred here, too.

“I wanted to play with an elite point guard,” said Walters, “and here was a great place for me. I already had chemistry with the point guard.”

What about May attracted Donaldson?

“Just how he focuses on everything being purposeful,” said Donaldson. “We don’t waste any time. That was the big thing – how he runs practices. We have a practice plan and a quote of the day every day. It’s amazing here. He’s a great coach and very close to us. He interacts with us like me and Sam interact with each other. He’s fun to play for, and this is exciting.”

The new point guard could’ve come here to play football for Jim Harbaugh.

Donaldson, at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, was a four-star recruit in both basketball and football, where he played quarterback and was recruited by every major college power at Florida State University High in Tallahassee.

He said Michigan offered him a gridiron scholarship along with Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Florida, Tennessee and Auburn.

However, Donaldson said, “Basketball is my passion.”

And, interestingly, his high school hoops coach was 1993 Florida State Heisman Trophy winner and football national championship team quarterback Charlie Ward – who said he would not consider the NFL unless drafted in the first round. He became the first undrafted Heisman winner in 35 years, but went in the first round of the NBA Draft as a point guard and started in the 1999 NBA Finals for the New York Knicks.

Tre Donaldson made the high school varsity as an eighth-grader in middle school, and had so many influences familiar with big-time athletics.

His father played for Troy (Ala.) University (1993-97) and scored 1,363 points. Dad was a three-sport athlete there, opting away from a football scholarship commitment to Auburn because he wanted to play more than one sport. His uncle, Duke Donaldson, was a starting wide receiver at Auburn (1984-87) and a teammate of the legendary Bo Jackson.

The son is Rhodney Donaldson III, and the nickname Tre comes from him being the third in his family line with that name. You should know that Trey Burke is Alfonso Burke III.

Tre’s mother, Stacie Donaldson, played softball at Florida State and so his entire family that includes five sisters is athletic.

Donaldson won the 2022 Florida 3A state basketball championship by scoring a team-high 22 points in a 67-66 championship game win over Miami Riviera Prep, and also reached the state title game in football.

Tattooed on his left shoulder: “Born to Win.”

Photo by Steve Kornacki

Michigan point guard Tre Donaldson has “Born to Win” tattooed on his left shoulder and won a Florida state championship in high school.

And he wants to bring that winning vibe back to the Wolverines, who were 8-24 last season.

“We all have the same goal,” said Donaldson. “We want to win. Michigan basketball got away from it, but we’re trying to bring that back and bring the focus back to Michigan basketball. We want contributions from everybody, and that’s what makes a great team.”

What does he bring?

“Me, I bring the leadership,” Donaldson said without hesitation. “I’m a winner. I’ve won everywhere I’ve been. I’ll continue to win. I’m a leader, and I’m going to make plays for everybody, and make plays for myself. I love making plays for my teammates.

“The team will be my team – good, bad or ugly.”

Donaldson said there’s “no question” that May put together players – six portal transfers, three high school recruits and three returners – with a deliberate plan to field a squad that emphasizes teamwork and positivity.

“Look at the guys he kept and what type of persons they are,” said Donaldson of Nimari Burnett, Jace Howard and Will Tschetter. “It speaks to who [May] is.”

The Wolverines won a Sunday exhibition game in Detroit by beating Oakland University – a 2024 NCAA tourney team – by a 92-48 score. Donaldson had 9 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists with 2 turnovers.

They host Toledo Friday in a 7:30 p.m. exhibition game on the Big Ten Network, and the regular season opens Nov. 4 with Cleveland State visiting Crisler Center.

“Michigan basketball is back,” said Donaldson. “We don’t want to be a punching bag. We want to dictate. So, everything we do, we’re going to try to dictate as much as possible. We want to play as fast as possible.”

May wants to Donaldson to push the fastbreak. Shooting three-pointers on the run, passing quickly on the perimeter or driving to the basket will be the offensive emphasis.

“And as the point guard,” added Donaldson, “I definitely have to dictate and communicate everything. The guys behind me, if I lack in dictating [in a game], they will pick me up.”

When Burke, now playing in Puerto Rico for Mets De Guaynabo and hoping to catch on with another NBA team, watches Donaldson, odds are he’ll be proud of the new Tre running the show.

“I’ve known what I’ve wanted for a long time,” said Donaldson. “I’ve fulfilled one of my dreams of playing Michigan basketball, and now I have to handle my business here and wait for my opportunity to possibly play in the pros.”

The dream continues for Rhodney Donaldson III.