Get to Know Future Wolverine Oscar Goodman
4/28/2025 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
This is part one of a three-part series in which Shira Black sits down with three signees for Michigan men's basketball.
By Shira Black
Ann Arbor is a long way from Opunake, New Zealand, the small beach town that Michigan's newest Wolverine calls home.
After graduating from high school in November, Oscar Goodman arrived in Michigan in early January, trading his five-minute walk to the beach for the harsh reality of a Midwest winter. His transition has come with its fair share of culture shock -- none more jarring than the snow.
Time spent with his new teammates and classmates has already led to playful cultural exchanges. Goodman often drops the word "chur," a versatile piece of New Zealand slang that can mean anything from "thanks" to "goodbye" to "congratulations." He's also introduced phrases like "sweet as" and "save as," both of which translate to "all good" in his native speech. Whether the Wolverine squad will embrace some of Goodman's favorite New Zealand bands — reggae group L.A.B or pop-rock band Six60 — remains to be seen.
Goodman is eager to explore his longtime love of art. He's considering a major in architecture or interior design, hoping to put his high school art classes to good use and continue sketching and painting to his heart's content.
On the hardwood, Goodman sees shades of his game in fellow international Wolverine Franz Wagner and Wagner's Orlando Magic teammate Paolo Banchero. Known for their versatility, Goodman highlighted the attributes he hopes to emulate when he steps on the floor.
"They're all very versatile," Goodman said. "They're comfortable putting the ball on the floor and beating the defender, and then comfortable shooting the three and using their size to their advantage."
At 6-foot-7 and aiming to make the transition to small forward after previously playing power forward, Goodman is confident in his physicality.
"Just know that I'll be pretty physical on the court and take some hits every now and then," he said. "Just try and bring as much energy as I can from hustle plays."
Newly 18 (his birthday was Feb. 5), Goodman first picked up a basketball at age 11 after starting out in rugby and soccer. By 13, he had already dunked for the first time. He later earned an invitation to the exclusive NBA Global Academy and moved to its base in Australia to sharpen his skills and learn how to "coach [himself] on and off the court."
His international experience doesn't stop there. Goodman represented New Zealand in under-15, under-16 and under-17 international competition, leading his team to the semifinals -- the nation's first time advancing that far in any age-group FIBA World Cup and the first FIBA semifinal for New Zealand since the senior team finished fourth in 2002.
His first-team caliber performances earned him a call-up to play for New Zealand's national team, the Tall Blacks, at the FIBA Asia Cup, an opportunity he relished.
"It's always awesome to have the opportunity to play for your country," he said. "It was a really good learning experience, just seeing all the older guys and how they prepare for games and get their bodies right, and then just asking as many questions as I could."
The opportunity to represent his national team mirrors Goodman's current path: learning from older teammates and adjusting to the play style, pace and physicality of the college game before officially suiting up for U-M this fall alongside fellow signees Trey McKenney and Winters Grady.
Goodman has already started to bond with his teammates, crediting their welcoming nature and emphasizing how important it was for him to find a program with a positive team environment and strong connections with the coaching staff during the recruiting process.
Despite being more than 8,000 miles from home, Goodman is up for the challenge. The oldest of five boys, he's used to being a role model and remains grateful for his family's support.
"They've been awesome," Goodman said. "Every game they were able to make, they showed up. And they've been supporting me, getting up at ridiculous hours in the morning to watch my games when I'm overseas at tournaments ... just being supportive and making sure I'm still enjoying everything."
When asked what it means to compete for his brothers, Goodman didn't hesitate.
"Everything," he said. "Just showing them that if you work hard, it can be accomplished."
