UCLA On August 3, 2023, the
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) announced Mara's signing to play
college basketball in the United States for the
Bruins. He was rated as a
five-star recruit and the No. 15 overall prospect in the 2023 class by
247Sports. Casademont Zaragoza contested his move, stating that "contracts must be respected" and warning that they would "take the necessary measures to keep it that way". The dispute led to potential
NCAA eligibility issues for Mara, before he was cleared to play for UCLA three days before the start of the
2023–24 season. He was a part-time
starter during the season. In
2024–25, Mara came almost entirely off the
bench, but became a major part of the rotation after a breakout game against
Wisconsin in late January 2025. Mara followed up with 12 points and seven rebounds along with then–career highs of 30 minutes and five blocks in a win over
Washington. His 51 minutes in two games bested his usage in the prior eight contests. In the following game against
USC with
Tyler Bilodeau out injured, Mara made his only start of the season and recorded his first career
double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds along with five blocks again against
UCLA's crosstown rivals. In the
2025 NCAA tournament, he had 10 points, six rebounds, five blocks and two assists in 20 minutes in a 72–47 first-round win over
Utah State. He ended the season averaging 6.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 13.1 minutes. Following his sophomore season, he entered the
NCAA transfer portal. On November 3 against
Oakland, he had a double-double in his Michigan debut, recording twelve points, a career-high twelve rebounds, and tying a career-high with five blocks. On November 11 against
Wake Forest, Mara followed his impressive debut with a second double-double, recording 18 points, a career-high 13 rebounds, a career-high six assists, and again tied his career-high with five blocks. With these numbers, he became the second player in history to accumulate more than 30 points, 25 rebounds, 10 blocks and 5 assists in his first two games of a season in the NCAA or
NBA, after
Tim Duncan who did it in the
2003–04 season with the
San Antonio Spurs. On February 5, 2026, Mara posted a career-high six blocks in a 110–69 victory against
Penn State, helping
Michigan to a school record 21st win before a second loss. On February 8 in a
rivalry game victory at
Ohio State, Mara had a career-high 24 point effort that included his first two made collegiate
three point shots (after never attempting any at UCLA and four misses at Michigan). Mara became the third
NCAA Division I player to record a three-point shot this season and just the fourth to make multiple threes in a game since the
2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. He was also selected to the
2026 Big Ten All-Tournament team after Michigan finished as runner-up to Purdue. In the Final Four of the
2026 NCAA tournament, Mara scored a career-high 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting, adding nine rebounds and two blocks, as Michigan defeated
Arizona, 91–73. On April 6, 2026, the team won the
national championship and tied the
Big Ten Conference record for single-season wins, 37. Mara was named to the all-tournament team along with teammates
Morez Johnson Jr. and
Elliot Cadeau. On April 24, Mara declared for the
2026 NBA draft, while maintaining his NCAA eligibility through the draft process. ==National team career==